Repurposing oil and gas infrastructure as artificial reefs – a global perspective
Anam Saeed A * and Bethan Parnum AA
Dr Anam Saeed is a Managing Consultant at ERM, based in Perth, Australia. She is experienced in evaluating the material compositions of oil and gas infrastructure, including toxicity, degradation properties and interactions with seawater and ecological receptors. |
Bethan Parnum is a Consulting Director and has over 15 years’ experience in environmental impact assessment and regulatory approvals for offshore oil and gas projects. She has conducted several technical studies supporting the assessment of options for decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure. |
Abstract
More than 7000 offshore oil and gas (O&G) installations are found across 53 countries throughout the world’s oceans. During their life span, these structures provide a habitat for marine life and can support diverse assemblages. At the end of planned service life, they are decommissioned which usually involves the complete removal of infrastructure from the ocean, resulting in the loss of these marine communities. Various countries have repurposed O&G platforms as artificial reefs as an alternative solution to decommissioning, such as the Rigs-to-Reefs (R2R) program developed by the United States (US). The repurposing of O&G platforms may have benefits in preserving or enhancing ecological communities, as well as reducing the impacts and costs associated with removal and disposal onshore. The placement of O&G platforms in the ocean as artificial reefs demands prudent planning and high-level management to ensure the anticipated benefits are delivered and potential impacts are managed. The US National Artificial Reef Program (NARP) along with the R2R program provides guidelines on various aspects of artificial reef use, including planning, site selection, design and management. Since 1980, the US has successfully converted more than 593 O&G platforms to permanent artificial reefs due to the active participation and support of O&G operators, government, local fishing and diving communities. Other countries are also taking initiatives to repurpose their O&G infrastructure. The aim of this paper is to identify key considerations in the repurposing of O&G infrastructure as artificial reefs, using the US R2R program and other geographies as examples.
Keywords: artificial reefs, decommissioning, environmental impacts, fishing, marine ecosystem, national artificial reef program, oil and gas platforms, Rigs-to-Reefs (R2R).
Dr Anam Saeed is a Managing Consultant at ERM, based in Perth, Australia. She is experienced in evaluating the material compositions of oil and gas infrastructure, including toxicity, degradation properties and interactions with seawater and ecological receptors. |
Bethan Parnum is a Consulting Director and has over 15 years’ experience in environmental impact assessment and regulatory approvals for offshore oil and gas projects. She has conducted several technical studies supporting the assessment of options for decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure. |
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