Concurrent 27. Oral Presentation for: National Decommissioning Research Initiative (NDRI) phase 2 determining outcomes to inform offshore decommissioning options
Cassandra Schmidt A *A National Decommissioning Research Initiative, Perth, WA, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 63 - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22396
Published: 2 June 2023
Abstract
Presented on Thursday 18 May: Session 27
The Australian offshore oil and gas (O&G) industry is facing a significant decommissioning portfolio over the next few decades. In response to this, in 2019, eight Australian oil and gas operators and the National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) established the National Decommissioning Research Initiative (NDRI) with the aim to fill key knowledge gaps on the potential environmental impacts, risks and benefits of different decommissioning options in Australia’s offshore environment. In phase 1, seven research projects were undertaken covering the interaction that occurs between the environment and O&G infrastructure in Australia’s oceans. Phase 2 of the NDRI has now commenced with a focus on developing an ecological risk assessment guidance document for O&G titleholders to be able to undertake environmental risk assessments to determine if the level of contamination associated with different offshore decommissioning options is environmentally acceptable. The paper would describe the pathway to produce guidance on science-based acceptability criteria for contamination associated with O&G infrastructure: Research needed for the development of screening values to identify if a site-specific ecological risk assessment is required. Research plans are to be developed to identify the lines of evidence that can be used to determine if impacts and risks of any contamination are of an acceptable level. Ongoing engagement of regulators, researchers and other stakeholders is a critical component on the pathway forward.
To access the Oral Presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Keywords: contaminants, decommissioning, Industry guidance material, marine research, oil and gas infrastructure.
Cassandra Schmidt is the Program Director of the National Decommissioning Research Initiative whose objective is to undertake independent science to better understand the impacts of decommissioning oil and gas structures on the Australian marine environment. In the last 20 years she has worked for major oil and gas companies managing complex environmental approvals, policy development and compliance monitoring programs for onshore and offshore activities within Australia and internationally. |
