Decommissioning: Corals on Oil Platforms Could Kick-start the Deep-sea Ecosystem
In the late 1990s, the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa was first reported growing on the legs of oil platforms in the northern North Sea. As these platforms reach the end of their operational lives, many are being decommissioned and brought ashore. What happens to the coral, asks Murray Roberts, Changing Oceans Research Group, University of Edinburgh.Huge efforts have gone into safely recycling the steel and other materials from the platforms, but no plans have been developed to use the coral that have grown on them. They don’t survive in air and quickly die before being removed from the
Offshore Energy Outlook for 2020
The “new normal” is a phrase tossed around often in offshore energy circles today as those servicing and operating in the sector grapple with the harsh realities of the prolonged industry downturn. Operators, service companies and equipment suppliers have been forced to adjust to oil selling at prices well below the $100+ per barrel mark seen in years past. As of this writing, Brent oil was hovering around $62 per barrel, and analysts expect prices will remain in this range for some time into the future.On top of this, there’s another new reality for oil and gas companies to come to
Partners Find a New Way to Detect Well leaks
Project partners in the UK are working to develop a new approach for monitoring the long-term integrity of suspended or decommissioned oil and gas wells in the North Sea. Their proposed technique aims to act as a "smoke alarm for the sea" to provide early warning in the event of a leak. The North Sea is currently home to approximately 11,000 oil and gas wells with 2,379 expected to be decommissioned over the next 10 years, according to Oil & Gas UK’s Decommissioning Insight Report. Suspended wells must be inspected; however, this is neither continuous nor frequent, and there
Closed Bell Diving Courses Relaunched at The Underwater Centre
A subsea training and trials center has become the world’s only commercial diving school to offer a closed bell saturation diving system with a self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat (SPHL), following a major refurbishment.Thanks to significant investment and support from the global oil and gas sector, The Underwater Centre relaunched its three-week closed bell diving course in June. The first course was fully subscribed and applications are open for future courses.Subsea 7 and TechnipFMC have provided technical support, site supervision and conducted the refurbishment work on behalf of The Underwater
The Underwater Centre Under New Ownership
The Underwater Centre, a subsea training and trials center located in the Scottish Highlands, has turned a corner after receiving industry support to secure its future.Industry and public bodies including Oil & Gas UK, Subsea 7, TechnipFMC, Premier Oil and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have collaborated to support The Underwater Centre and ensure that the industry continues to have access to critical, world-leading underwater training and can undertake vital subsea equipment trials.The company will now operate as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, which will be funded and
Aker Solutions Upgrades Aberdeen Site
Aker Solutions today officially opens its upgraded Aberdeen services facility to help capture subsea sector growth in the UK and elsewhere. Demand is increasing globally for services at oil and gas fields offshore, including in the UK. Energy companies are seeking to maximize production and returns from existing assets and infrastructure amid tighter budgets. "Our investment in the Aberdeen services base demonstrates our commitment to the North Sea, a mature basin where we see opportunities," said Sian Lloyd Rees, Aker Solutions’ UK country manager. "It’s
Decom North Sea Sheds Light on Supply Chain Capability
Decom North Sea has published aDecom Directory in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise and the Oil & Gas Authority, which provides details of companies which have the capability to service the UK/UKCS decommissioning sector. Supported by EEEGR, FPAL, EIC, FEDF and NOF, the directory captures the capabilities of almost 300 supply chain companies which can service the UK/UKCS across17 newly-defined supply chain activities within a decommissioning work break down structure (WBS); from planning stages through to site remediation and long-term monitoring. Created with the assistance of EEEGR
BMT Supports Oil & Gas UK with New Guidelines
BMT has supported Oil & Gas UK with the new Financial Responsibility Guidelines released last week. Oil & Gas UK is the leading representative body for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Louise O’Hara Murray, Environment Manager at Oil & Gas UK comments: ““These guidelines are part of the industry’s preparedness and response plan in the event of an oil release. They outline the level of financial liability required and how this should be declared or demonstrated to the UK’s Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning.” &nb
Aerial Drones Take Flight Offshore
UAS Programs: Improving Safety and Effectiveness for Offshore Asset Inspection and Surveying Oil and gas companies are using unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technology to improve safety and efficiency in a growing range of applications, from infrastructure and maintenance inspection to security, emergency response and environmental and regulatory compliance. Today’s UAS programs are supported by payloads including high-definition video equipment, high-resolution still cameras, thermal imaging cameras and emission sensors – and there are many ways, operationally and financially
February 2024
