Page 53: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2020)

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Deepwater reefing is coming into vogue

Will Speck

TSB Offshore President

Source: G.P. Schmahl, the NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Source: Jennifer Pallanich and taken to shore for recycling or refurbishment. In some picking up, he says. The level of activity offshore both Aus- cases, however, an operator can apply for part of the sub- tralia and Brazil are likely to be similar, he adds, although structure to remain as an arti? cial reef through the National each has its own challenges. For instance, Australia’s geog-

Arti? cial Reef Plan. Good candidate platforms are those that raphy imposes logistics challenges almost akin to the US’s are complex, stable, durable and clean, according to BSEE, West Coast, he says, because vessels often have to mobilize while those that have toppled due to structure failure are not. from the other side of the island or from Singapore. Brazil, “Deepwater ree? ng is coming into vogue,” Speck adds, on the other hand, is continuing to develop its decommis- noting that leaving more of the structure behind during sioning regulations, he says. decommissioning activities creates more biohabitat that al- “As they streamline their processes, Brazil will be a mar- lows a larger variety of marine life to grow in the area. ket to watch,” Speck says.

West Africa is another region where regulations are ? rm-

INCREASING DEMAND ing up, he adds.

Decommissioning activities are also expected to in- “This is going to push the decommissioning planning, crease along the US West Coast where that infrastructure which is important,” he says. He says some West African is reaching the end of its service life. What complicates countries like Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Ghana and Gabon that market, Speck observes, is the dif? culty in mobilizing are starting to look at decommissioning from the outset of a vessels to the region to carry out the activity. Any vessel new ? eld’s development. “That’s an excellent improvement.” will likely come from Asia or the Gulf of Mexico via the

And a new decommissioning market is also opening up:

Panama Canal. As a result, he says, it is possible multiple offshore windfarms.

Paci? c OCS operators might cooperate in sharing vessel

With the ? rst generation of windfarms starting to age assets to reduce the overall mobilization burden.

out, Jay Boudoin, TSB Offshore’s director of client rela-

Elsewhere in the world, Malaysia is starting decommis- tions, believes the company will have to opportunity to sioning activities and Thailand’s decommissioning pace is participate in those decommissioning efforts as well.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 53