Decommissioning refers to the process of ending oil and gas operation at the offshore platform keeping in account the risk and safety of the offshore environment. This process carried out when oil production from the well decreases substantially. Offshore decommissioning must be done cost efficiently, as it comprises of risks and uncertainties, creating challenges for decommissioning projects.
The major drivers of offshore decommissioning market are infrastructure aging and maturing oilfields especially in North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Decline in crude oil prices are estimated to augment the growth of the oilfields decommissioning market. Risk involved and high cost for decommissioning are some of the factors restraining the offshore decommissioning market growth.
Among the decommissioning process, the well plugging and abandonment accounted to have the largest share in offshore decommissioning market. Shallow water depth segment is accounted to have the largest growth in offshore decommissioning market, due to its less expenditure in shallow water. New projects are established in deep & ultra-deep waters over the last few decades emphasizing the growth of offshore decommissioning market.
Europe is projected to be the fastest growing market in offshore decommissioning, owing to the maturing oilfields and high spending in North Sea and UK. The ceasing of major oilfields and excellent regulatory framework is ensuring high pace of offshore decommissioning market in Europe. Oil and Gas Authority, in U.K., is expected to invest around US$ 71 billion for safe decommissioning.
North America is accounted to be the second largest market in offshore decommissioning, owing to maturing oilfields in Gulf of Mexico with large number of platforms decommissioning every year.
Asia Pacific is witnessed to have a significant growth rate in offshore decommissioning market, owing to rise of aging oilfields. The decommissioning opportunities in Indonesia and Malaysia is anticipated to enhance the offshore decommissioning market in this region. Middle East offshore decommissioning market is projected to have a significant growth, due to its prolonged oil and gas operations and production activities.
The U.S assembled The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and regulations establishing decommissioning obligations, which must be fulfilled by the operator during the signing of an offshore lease, including the requirement of approval and permit to remove the platform.
The OCSLA regulations administrated by Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement (BSEE) demands that the operator must obtain approval through an application prior to the removal of platform.