DECOMMISSIONING IN THE USAPresented to the

Forum on

Identifying the Synergies BetweenIdentifying the Synergies BetweenDecommissioning and Wreck Removal

December 2010Presented by

Robert C. Byrd, PhD, PE

Offshore Platform ComponentsOffshore Platform Components

The Decommissioning Process

Deck Removal

50 lb. Configured Bulk Chargeith Ei ht D t twith Eight Detonators

BP P15 R1JN Platform Removal

Cold CuttingCold Cutting

• Water abrasive cutting w/ internal pile cutter

Partial RemovalCENTER BRACING CUT OUTLEAVEING A MIN. ONE FOOT

STUB FOR SLINGS

M.W.L.

CUT CUT

CUTCUT OFF @ -86 ELEV

JUST ABOVE DOUBLER

LEAVE 6 INCHES OFMETAL ON THE OUTEREDGE OF LEG A1 & B1

LEAVE 6 INCHES OFMETAL ON THE OUTEREDGE OF LEG A4 & B4

Active Platforms by Water Depth

34803500

2500

3000

Plat

form

s

1500

2000

of A

ctiv

e P

442500

1000

Num

ber o

47 4 25

0

500N

0 to 200 201 to 400 401 to 800 801 to 1000 Above 1000Water Depth (Meters)

Number of Gulf Of Mexico OCS Platform Installed vs Removed (1942-2008)

225

250

150

175

200

f Pla

tfor

ms

100

125

150

Num

ber o

f

25

50

75

0

25

1940 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Year

Installed Removed

Number of Gulf Of Mexico OCS Platform Installed vs Removed (2000-2008)

200

225

150

175

f Pla

tfor

ms

75

100

125

Num

ber o

f

25

50

75

02000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Installed Removed

US Gulf of Mexico Inventory Summary

2009 5‐YR AVERAGE

(2003 2008)

CUMULATIVE(1947‐2008)

2009 Balance

Remaining(2003‐2008) Remaining

Well D ill d

258 380 35,802 16,203Drilled 

StructuresInstalled

63 92.4 6,838 3,712Installed

Wells PA  592 424 19,599

Structures 158 141 3,126Removed

,

US GOM– Deepwater Inventory

Structure Type Units

Fixed Platforms in Depth 400-600 ft (125 – 188 m) 41

Fixed Platforms, including Towers, in Depth 600 - 1700+ ft (188 – 530+ m) 29

Classic Spar 3

T S 12Truss Spar 12

Cell Spar 1

MiniDOC Spar 2

Mini or New Generation Tension Leg Platform (MTLP) 6

Conventional Tension Leg Platform (TLP) 9

Semi Submersibles (Semi) 8

TOTAL 111

US Pacific OCS Inventory

Platform Water Depth Total Name (ft) Weight

A 188 6,405

B 190 6,535

C 192 5,796

Edith 161 9,147

Ellen 265 14,016

Elly 255 9,400

Eureka 700 38,360

Gail 739 33,924

Gilda 205 11,690

Gina 95 1,426

Grace 318 11,256

Habitat 290 9,044

Harmony 1,198 78,380

Harvest 675 32,815

Henry 173 4,046

Heritage 1,075 67,515

Hermosa 603 29,516

Hidalgo 430 22,478

Hillhouse 190 5,929

Hogan 154 5,497

Hondo 842 28,713

Houchin 163 5,977

Irene 242 8,646

Hurricane Damage:Hurricane Damage: Major Impact in GOM sinceMajor Impact in GOM since

2005

What Changes After Hurricane Damage?

Everything, except the Regulations 

Decommissioning Costs increase by     10x or more10x or more

Typical 2005 Hurricane Katrina Typical 2005 Hurricane Katrina DamageDamageDamageDamage

Hurricane Katrina Damage (cont )Hurricane Katrina Damage (cont )Hurricane Katrina Damage (cont.)Hurricane Katrina Damage (cont.)

2008 Hurricane Ike Damaged Platforms2008 Hurricane Ike Damaged Platforms

Vermilion 281 A– BeforeVermilion 281 A Before

The Platform – AfterThe Platform After

The Regulatory Environment:In a high state of flux: New people

in the BOEMRE (formerly MMS)( y )

Supplemental Bonding continues pp gto be under review

Reefing options being challenged

New NTL to remove “Idle Iron”

New Decommissioning NTLNew Decommissioning NTL

The NTL Defines “No longer useful for operations”The NTL Defines  No longer useful for operations  which is used in the regulations for:

• Wells• No production 5 years

• No plans for future operations

• Platforms• Toppled

• Has not been used in past 5 years for operations associated with exploration, development or production of oil/gasof oil/gas

Idle Wells and Facilities

USA Decommissioning Summary & Conclusions

• The GOM has a long history in Decommissioning.• The regulatory climate has grown uncertainThe regulatory climate has grown uncertain.• Deepwater Fixed Platform complete removal may be a challenge.g

• Limited availability of resources may be a challenge, particularly on the US West Coast.

• Reversibility a major issue in some deepwater systems.

Questions?