Page 28: of Marine News Magazine (August 2012)

Nearly two years ago, the Obama Administration tightened rules for removing ?idle iron? ? old oil platforms and pipelines ? and on plugging unused wells in the Gulf of Mexico. That September 2010 move was part of a federal crackdown on deepwater oil and gas operations following the 2010 BP spill. Since then, heavy-lift companies have continued to rid the Gulf of unused structures and other  rms have positioned themselves for that work. Under the 2010 rules, wells that hadn?t been used for  ve years were to be abandoned or ?zonally isolated? within three years after Oct. 15, 2010. If wells were zonally isolated, operators had two additional years to abandon them. Platforms and supporting infrastructure that were idle for  ve years or more were to be removed within  ve years from mid-October 2010. BISSO PREVAILS IN GULF DECOMMISSIONING At Bisso Marine in Houston and New Orleans, W. A. ?Beau? Bisso, IV, President, CEO and  fth-generation leader, said ?we?re the only company in the U.S. that actively performs offshore oil eld decommissioning and platform- removal services, along with typical, offshore and inland marine salvage. We?re an industry leader in both service lines.? ?None of our salvage counterparts participate in these oil eld service areas,? he said. ?They don?t have the equipment or expertise. We perform marine construction and pipelaying services, including oil eld decommissioning as well as traditional marine salvage. Our  eet of derrick barges, laybarges, and dive support vessels are used to install and decommission oil and gas infrastructure, to lay and remove pipelines and salvage vessels.? Bisso completed 50 decommissioning projects in the Gulf in 2011. ?As of today, we have over 80 to perform in 2012 alone,? Bisso said in late July. ?And there are a few more 2012 decommissioning projects that we?re currently bidding.? Industry members said Houma, La.-based Manson Gulf, LLC, a subsidiary of Manson Construction Co. in Seattle, is also skilled at removing oil structures from the Gulf. Manson declined an interview for this article but its website shows removal work, and says the company?s ?large  eet of  oating derricks provides a wide range of lift capacities.? Push Is On To Declutter Gulf of Idle Iron Push Is On To Declutter Gulf of Idle Iron By Susan Buchanan ABOVE: The VB 10000 lift vessel is rated at 7,500 tons and has lifted 4,000 tons in a single operation.August 201228 MN