ABB@Offshore Europe

Feature articlesDecommissioningHelping plan and support late lifeoperation and the journey to assetdisposal.With over 50% of offshore installations in the North Seaoperating beyond their design life, planning for their eventualend of service and decommissioning is a matter of urgency.Many of these structures will have been operating for almost40 years and over the next couple of decades over 90% ofthem will need to be completely removed from their sites andbrought onshore for re-use, recycling or disposal. Operatorshave a responsibility to dispose of these assets safely andwith no adverse effects to the environment. But before thisdecommissioning phase is reached operators must beginto prepare for Cessation of Production (CoP). This mayinvolve running assets at low rates until their end of life andcontinuing to maintain structures once CoP occurs.ABB has a broad experience of supporting decommissioningacross its lifecycle; from managing redundant systems duringnormal operations, through late life operations, preparing fordecommissioning to final disposal onshore.Some of the services we provide include:During normal operations and in planning for CoP−−Developing and maintaining live asset life plans andoptimising maintenance strategies as CoP approaches−−While assets will not be producing beyond CoP, they willoften still have a life of five years or more and must remainfit for purpose during this period−−−−−−−−−−Managing redundant equipment / systems - reducingmaintenance and inspection costs, reducing weighton platforms, preserving equipment needed for thedecommissioning process or resale / preservationDecommissioning strategy - optioneering and selecting theoptimum removal method (e.g. piece small vs single lift),maximising asset value, contract strategy etc.Planning for CoP - identifying the systems needed postCoP, planning to maintain them, preservation actionsPreparing for decommissioning - completing risk studies,lifting studies, environmental and safety studies, budgetingand schedules, hazardous inventories, work methods etc.Engineering design - modifications required fordecommissioning, such as structural strengthening,isolations, life support systems etc.Post CoP - during decommissioning and removal−−Project management - progressing the decommissioningand removal stage to schedule and budget. Detailedpreparation work for disposal, managing the removalprocess, completing enabling work−−Specialist technical support - safety studies, preservationstudies, hazardous inventory management−−Remote monitoring - during times when the platform isunmanned key conditions can be remotely monitored todetect any issues or warnings of possible future problems−−−−Essential systems solution - post CoP and duringdecommissioning a number of significant changes comeabout; there may be no power supply; there may belong periods when the asset is unmanned; emergencyand fire support systems need to be maintained andprotected from decommissioning work. ABB can providea containerised solution to these issues that is easilyinstalled on a platform. This self-contained solution willprovide power, life support systems and emergencycommunication systemsOnshore disposal - ABB provides full project managementand stewardship during the onshore disposal phaseABB recently completed a report forDecom North Sea and Zero WasteScotland looking at the benefitsof alternative methodologies fordecommissioning (alternatives to asingle lift).by Steve Andrew, ABB12 ABB@Offshore Europe ABB stand 3E 160www.abb.co.uk/offshore-europe