Rigs to reefs in the North Sea

Abstract

In the next two decades, the UK will have to decommission most of its offshore platforms, when they cease cost-effective production and become redundant. This has resulted in considerable discussion over the past 10 years about the engineering, legal, financial and environmental aspects of decommissioning (Read, 1984, 1985; Side, 1993; Side et al, 1993). A framework of regulations and standards for North Sea platform decommissioning is in place including guidelines drawn up by the International Maritime Organisation in 1989. In the wake of the Brent Spar incident, however, there has been considerable debate on the disposal at sea of offshore installations. This has resulted in the contracting parties to the 1992 OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North- East Atlantic agreeing a Decision (98/3) on the Disposal of Disused Offshore Installations, to enter into force in February 1999. This decision prohibits the leaving wholly, or partly in place, of disused offshore installations within the maritime area, the only potential exceptions being the footings of steel installations weighing more than 10 000 tonnes in air; gravity based and floating concrete installations; concrete anchor bases; and any other installation suffering exceptional or unforeseen circumstances resulting from structural damage, deterioration or equivalent difficulties. This decision, however, does not cover those installations which serve another legitimate purpose in the maritime area authorized or regulated by the competent authority of the relevant contracting party. These installations are subject to Annex III (Article 8) of the 1992 OSPAR Convention and other relevant UK and international legislation and guidelines, the former requiring authorization from the contracting party in accordance with relevant applicable criteria, guidelines and procedures adopted by the Commission, with a view to preventing and eliminating pollution.