Oil and gas infrastructure decommissioning in marine protected areas: System complexity, analysis and challenges

Burdon, D.; Barnard, S.; Boyes, S. J.; Elliott, M.

Abstract

Many offshore oil and gas production facilities are nearing the end of their operational life, with decommissioning now becoming a global challenge. The compatibility of decommissioning operations to marine protected areas (MPAs) creates further challenges. The recently-developed DAPSI(W)R(M) problem structuring framework (covering Drivers, Activities, Pressures, State changes, Impacts (on Welfare) and Responses (as Measures)) was applied here to interrogate the complexity of decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure within MPAs, with outputs feeding into the development of a novel database tool for Screening Potential Impacts of Decommissioning Activities (SPIDA). In meeting the current requirements of the marine regulatory regime, SPIDA provides a more streamlined, evidence-based process which can be applied by industry, statutory nature conservation bodies and regulators for identifying and evaluating evidence that supports the implications of decommissioning alternatives on the condition of MPAs. SPIDA has been developed to be adapted for other activities and sectors, including offshore renewables.

Citation

Burdon, D., Barnard, S., Boyes, S. J., & Elliott, M. (2018). Oil and gas infrastructure decommissioning in marine protected areas: System complexity, analysis and challenges. Marine pollution bulletin, 135, 739-758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.077

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 28, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Aug 4, 2018
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Sep 3, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 5, 2019
• Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0025-326X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 135
• Pages: 739-758
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.077
• Keywords: Aquatic Science; Pollution; Oceanography
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/967694
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X18305642?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Oil and gas infrastructure decommissioning in marine protected areas: System complexity, analysis and challenges; Journal Title: Marine Pollution Bulletin; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.077; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Contract Date: Sep 4, 2018