Decommissioning of Gas and Oil

There comes a time when a gas or oil field or the facilities that are used to tap into those fields need to be decommissioned because they have reached a certain point where it is no longer viable to continue.  However, it can be difficult when it comes to gas and oil decommissioning because of the fact that the offshore rigs can be so far from the shore.  This means that the facilities that are required for carrying out the decommissioning can be quite a distance away.
North Sea DecommissioningThe oil and gas rigs located in the North Sea have been there for quite some time now and this means that they will not be in operation for too much longer so decommissioning is going to be required.  As previously mentioned, it can be difficult when it comes to decommissioning but in the North Sea, it can be particularly tricky because there can be very harsh conditions there which can make the job harder.  
ProblemsIt requires a lot of planning when it comes to decommissioning oil or gas rigs that have been sitting in the sea for decades.  Health and safety is very important and there is a need to carefully consider the effect that this could have on the environment.  It is also going to be hugely expensive so that is why decommissioning is something that will have to be planned very carefully.
How is Decommissioning Done?The whole process of decommissioning needs to be planned so that the rig can be dismantled in the most cost effective and safe manner.  After a plan has been put in place, it will need government approval before any work can begin.  This is a job that will require a number of different organisations and it can take years before it has been completed.
Companies with experience and expertise in areas such as waste management, water jetting, asbestos removal and cleaning will be involved in the decommissioning of a gas or oil rig.  There are strict regulations in place regarding the removal and disposal of waste and it will be necessary for the right people to be taking care of these jobs.
When it comes to actually dismantling the rig, there are a number of ways that this can be done.  Every day, new technology is making this type of job a little bit easier so it is not such a huge mountain to climb now as it used to be.  Thankfully, it is now possible for many of these rigs to be floated over to a mainland base where they can be dismantled in a safe and much easier manner.  However, it is not always possible to float some of these structures and if this is the case, it will be necessary to cut it into smaller pieces which can be taken to land on barges etc.