Decommissioning of offshore oil and gas structures – Environmental opportunities and challenges

Sommer, B; Fowler, AM; Macreadie, PI; Palandro, DA; Aziz, AC; Booth, DJ

Decommissioning of offshore oil and gas structures – Environmental opportunities and challenges

Sommer, B

Fowler, AM

Macreadie, PI

Palandro, DA Aziz, AC Booth, DJ

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Science of the Total Environment, 2019, 658 pp. 973 - 981
Issue Date:: 2019-03-25

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Sommer, B https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0617-7790	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fowler, AM https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3075-7066	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Macreadie, PI https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7362-0882	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Palandro, DA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Aziz, AC	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Booth, DJ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8256-1412	en_US
dc.date.available	2018-12-12	en_US
dc.date.issued	2019-03-25	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Science of the Total Environment, 2019, 658 pp. 973 - 981	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0048-9697	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/130025
dc.description.abstract	© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Thousands of offshore oil and gas structures are approaching the end of their operating life globally, yet our understanding of the environmental effects of different decommissioning strategies is incomplete. Past focus on a narrow set of criteria has limited evaluation of decommissioning effects, restricting decommissioning options in most regions. We broadly review the environmental effects of decommissioning, analyse case studies, and outline analytical approaches that can advance our understanding of ecological dynamics on oil and gas structures. We find that ecosystem functions and services increase with the age of the structure and vary with geographical setting, such that decommissioning decisions need to take an ecosystem approach that considers their broader habitat and biodiversity values. Alignment of decommissioning assessment priorities among regulators and how they are evaluated, will reduce the likelihood of variable and sub-optimal decommissioning decisions. Ultimately, the range of allowable decommissioning options must be expanded to optimise the environmental outcomes of decommissioning across the broad range of ecosystems in which platforms are located.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Science of the Total Environment	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.193	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences	en_US
dc.title	Decommissioning of offshore oil and gas structures – Environmental opportunities and challenges	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	658	en_US
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management	en_US
utslib.for	0907 Environmental Engineering	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	658	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Thousands of offshore oil and gas structures are approaching the end of their operating life globally, yet our understanding of the environmental effects of different decommissioning strategies is incomplete. Past focus on a narrow set of criteria has limited evaluation of decommissioning effects, restricting decommissioning options in most regions. We broadly review the environmental effects of decommissioning, analyse case studies, and outline analytical approaches that can advance our understanding of ecological dynamics on oil and gas structures. We find that ecosystem functions and services increase with the age of the structure and vary with geographical setting, such that decommissioning decisions need to take an ecosystem approach that considers their broader habitat and biodiversity values. Alignment of decommissioning assessment priorities among regulators and how they are evaluated, will reduce the likelihood of variable and sub-optimal decommissioning decisions. Ultimately, the range of allowable decommissioning options must be expanded to optimise the environmental outcomes of decommissioning across the broad range of ecosystems in which platforms are located.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/130025