DECOMMISSIONING-AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH

Abstract

The traditional planning for decommissioning oil and gas projects has included the option to remove platforms from the project area leaving the site clear for other uses. However, decommissioning presents a number of opportunities for alternative uses for facilities that are relatively close to the coast and in developing areas.

This paper examines the potential for the alternative use of facilities on the North West Shelf using the WMC operated Airlie Project as an example.

Airlie Island presents an opportunity to conduct a number of research activities which would have the capability to enhance the understanding of the natural environment in the region and to gain better understanding of the long-term impact of the oil and gas industries impact on the natural environment. There is also the supplementary opportunity to conduct engineering research applicable to the oil and gas industry without the distraction and hazards of an operating field to interfere with the research projects. Allied to these possibilities is the potential to conduct research applicable to tourism and fishing related activities which are beginning to exert more pressure and the North West Shelf environment than has been the case in the recent past.

In addition to the research opportunities, there exists the potential to manage Airlie Island as a support base for tourism activities on a commercial basis. The example presented could easily be applied to other projects nearing decommissioning.