Decommissioning

14 May 2008 Aberdeen Evening Meeting

Chairman Bob Hemmings, Shell
Sponsored by J P Kenny and TS Marine

Report

Flyer

Overview

With around 470 installations to be removed in the North Sea including floating, subsea, small and large structures, along with 100 000km of pipelines and some 200 cutting piles, the potential market for decommissioning is not insignificant. Many UK operators are now preparing to launch decommissioning programmes and with some predictions to spend over £1billion pre year from 2009 onwards, it is vital that these projects are run effectively and efficiently. Inevitably adaptation of existing technologies and development of new ones will play an important role in the success of decommissioning; the forum provided a measure of the task ahead and a platform for some experiences already gained, plus some new ideas to be aired and discussed.

Presentations

Developments in Rigless Well Decommissioning

Dr Tom Lesson, TSMarine (contracting) Ltd

Significant cost savings can be realised by minimising the involvement of drilling rigs in subsea well decommissioning. Tom discusses the rigless methods successfully used to date, together with their limitations, and highlights the issues that need to be addressed before the role of the drilling rig can be completely eliminated.

Pipeline Decommissioning

Rob Fisher, Technip

More to Decommissioning than Meets the Eye

Ian Prince, Wood Group

This short presentation looks at the general perception of decommissioning and the reality of what lies behind the façade!

5 Minute Technology Bite

Rotating Electrode Cutting System

David Gibson, Infosto Newtech OY

This short presentation reviews an electrical method of cutting underwater.