Decom World - Regulation and Policy

Offshore Decommissioning Report 2012-2013 Gulf of Mexico

etully — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:31:39 +0000

Teaser / Précis:

Enhance your decommissioning business planning utilizing the latest data on the decommissioning in the Gulf of Mexico and become a leader in your field

External URL:

http://www.decomworld.com/gomreport/index.php?utm_source=Portal&utm_medium=Event...

Offshore Process Safety Management Conference

etully — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:53:14 +0000

Event Date:

Wed, 2012-05-30 - Thu, 2012-05-31

Event URL:

http://www.decomworld.com/process-safety-management/

Event Location:

Houston, Texas, USA

Number of attendees:

150

Event Organiser:

Adam Minkley

Event Organiser E-mail:

Aminkley@decomworld.com

Précis:

Maximize Safety & Minimize Risk by Developing a Robust SEMS Strategy to Guarantee Long-term Production

Gulf of Mexico’s Oil and Gas Community to Meet at Industry’s Largest Offshore Decommissioning Summit

etully — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:32:36 +0000

Précis:

Reviewing recent figures, 2011 represented a record year for decommissioning activity in the Gulf of Mexico, exceeding all predictions with over 200 platforms decommissioned matching the highest rate of decommissioning to date in 2009

In a decommissioning market valued at $30bn-$40bn, this spike in activity presents a vast opportunity for service providers in the Gulf of Mexico. On the flip side, increased regulatory burden, combined with the HSE issues and technical challenges that inherently accompany increased activity, will place heavy demands on both operators and contractors.

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Well Plugging and Abandonment Conference

etully — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:29:30 +0000

Event Date:

Wed, 2012-05-23 - Thu, 2012-05-24

Event URL:

http://www.decomworld.com/process-safety-management/?utm_source=Event%2BListing&...

Event Location:

Houston, Texas, USA

Number of attendees:

150

Event Organiser:

Dean Murphy

Event Organiser E-mail:

dmurphy@decomworld.com

Précis:

Improve well plugging and abandonment execution with the latest project experience and technologies

Weekly Intelligence Brief: January 18 – February 01

Rikki Stancich — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:56:48 +0000

Précis:

This edition of DecomWorld includes Cal Dive International; Oil & Gas UK, European Commission; Proserv, Proserv Technology, Proserv Offshore, Hydrafit Subsea, Gilmore Valve, Argus Subsea; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Cal Dive bags GOM contract

Houston, Texas-based marine contractor Cal Dive International has won a field abandonment and decommissioning contract from an operator in the Gulf of Mexico. The company says this is its first decommissioning programme in the Gulf of Mexico for 2012. Details pertaining to the name of the operator were not disclosed.

The assignment includes the abandonment of 16 wells, seven pipelines, and the removal of eight structures.

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Record year for decommissioning in the Gulf of Mexico: Is the Idle Iron NTL truly the big driver?

etully — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:44:55 +0000

Précis:

2011 represented a record year for decommissioning activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM)

London, UK - January 30 ,2012

2011 represented a record year for decommissioning activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), exceeding all predictions with over 200 platforms decommissioned matching the highest rate of decommissioning to date in 2009, according to the DecomWorld’s Gulf of Mexico Offshore Decommissioning Report 2012-13.

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California: Rigs-to-Reefs ready

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:23:57 +0000

Précis:

California's Rigs-to-Reefs law has been live since October 2010. But while operators say it is attractive, high oil prices have given a lease of life to California’s 27 ageing assets, putting decommissioning on the backburner.

By Bob Moser, Americas correspondent

California's Rigs-to-Reefs law has been on the books for nearly a year and a half, but questions remain on the approval process. This is due to the fact that none of the 27 active platforms off the state's coast have been scheduled for decommissioning. The savings to operators through the program are greatest if they disassemble by 2017, but demand for oil could delay decom payoff for the better part of a decade.

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DNS: Global template for decommissioning

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:45:58 +0000

Précis:

DecomNorthSea lays out a vision for a template that could shave years off the decommissioning plan approval process, and facilitate cross-border project bundling.

Interview by Rikki Stancich

Decom North Sea (DNS), a UK-based European offshore oil & gas decommissioning forum, has thrown its weight behind an initiative aimed at developing standard procedures for decommissioning projects.

North Sea's oil and gas decommissioning projects are about to ramp up, but with little track record, operators are feeling their way as they produce detailed decommissioning plans for the first time.

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Fortnightly Intelligence Brief: January 04 - 18

Rikki Stancich — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:13 +0000

Précis:

This week's DecomWorld news brief includes The UK Treasury, DECC; Oil & Gas UK, Norwegain Oil Industry Association (OLF); Oil & Gas UK; Oil & Gas UK; D3 Consulting and more.

UK: Oil and gas industry remains a vital asset

UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry has stated that the oil and gas industry remains a vital asset to the UK as the nation move towards a low carbon economy.

Hendry mentioned that the plan is to work closely with industry to realise the full potential of the North Sea and promote further investment and exploration activity.

“I hope the Fiscal Forum will enhance our efforts to secure the future of this critical industry,” he said.

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GOM: Price and regulatory stability crucial for 2012

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:49:51 +0000

Précis:

2012 will see an upswing in decommissioning activity in the Gulf of Mexico. DecomWorld explores how service providers and operators can maximize productivity on multiple project campaigns.

By Dan McCue, US correspondent

After a relatively slow year due mainly to a backlog of permit approvals, the Gulf of Mexico abandonment and decommissioning market should heat up in 2012 – baring the unpredictable impacts of a major hurricane during the prime working months or renewed volatility in the price of oil, industry insiders say.

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Chevron Confirm Involvement at Offshore Decommissioning Meeting in Houston

etully — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:02:55 +0000

Précis:

The Gulf of Mexico's oil and gas industry has really shifted into top gear with decommissioning projects in the region at an all-time high!

In 2010, the world's most active decommissioning market was kick-started when new legislation mandated the removal of idle offshore infrastructure.

In October 2010, the NTL mandate came into effect creating a huge boost in decommissioning projects in the Gulf of Mexico. For the first 6 months of 2011, the industry abandoned 671

Wells and removed 62 structures from the offshore continental shelf.

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Gulf of Mexico: Greater depths, new challenges

etully — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:04:48 +0000

Précis:

DecomWorld speaks to Charles Watson, Offshore Regulatory Compliance at Williams Midstream about challenges associated with decommissioning for the offshore industry.

DecomWorld: Where in the oil and gas industry does your company sit?

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Well integrity: UKCS guidelines issued

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:54:42 +0000

Précis:

DecomWorld contacts Oil & Gas UK to learn more about the latest guidelines for well examinations on the UK Continental Shelf.

At the end of 2011, Oil & Gas UK published the first two in a series of several guidelines to help well operators better understand and achieve the goals set by the Health and Safety Executive’s regulations regarding well operations on the UKCS.

The ‘Guidelines for well-operators on well examination’ and the ‘Guidelines for well-operators on competency of well-examiners’ were produced by the Well Life Cycle Practices Forum (WLCPF), a permanent body co-ordinated by Oil & Gas UK.

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Fortnightly Intelligence Brief: December 20, 2011 – January 3, 2012

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:52:08 +0000

Précis:

This edition of DecomWorld's fortnightly news brief includes Scottish Enterprise, Forth Ports, City of Edinburgh Council; The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM); DeepOcean Group; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

Scotland: Major port upgrade imminent

Oil and gas decommissioning is expected to receive a boost in Scotland as Scottish Enterprise, in conjunction with Forth Ports and City of Edinburgh Council, is considering investment options for the Port of Leith.

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Fortnightly Intelligence Brief: December 6 – December 20

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:54:26 +0000

Précis:

This week’s fortnightly edition of DecomWorld news includes Precision Drilling; Hercules Offshore; Oil & Gas UK; Wood Group, Marine Well Containment Company.

Precision shares plans for decommissioning of rigs

Alberta, Canada-based oilfield services company Precision Drilling has confirmed the decommissioning of 36 Tier 3 drilling rigs and 13 service rigs from its fleet and the company expects to take a pre-tax charge to earnings in the range of CAD$100 million to $120 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.

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Macondo aftershocks: P&A contractors face increased liability in 2012

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:02:20 +0000

Précis:

Relationships between contractors and operators in the Gulf of Mexico may undergo fundamental changes in 2012, and could even make some think twice about work in the region.

By Bob Moser, Americas correspondent

Relationships between contractors and operators in the Gulf of Mexico may undergo fundamental changes in 2012, and could even make some think twice about work in the region, now that US regulators will hold contractors liable for accidents in a way not accounted for in common contracts known as Master Service Agreements (MSAs).

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Oil & Gas Decommissioning and Asset Integrity Strategies Shared on New-Look News Portal

etully — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:16:47 +0000

Précis:

With oil and gas operators devoting an increasing amount of time and resources into their strategies for end of life assets, it is more important than ever for the industry to share advice, project updates and best practice strategies to move forward with current projects.

With regions including the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Asia Pacific and West Coast of Africa showing a real drive to complete asset integrity and decommissioning projects; the industry across these locations is set to accelerate rapidly.

DecomWorld (www.decomworld.com) have this week announced a new-look website which will focus on news dedicated to offshore decommissioning and asset integrity strategies to help the oil and gas industry to move forward and share best practice approaches.

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Fortnightly Intelligence Brief: November 22 - December 6

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:48:37 +0000

Précis:

This week's fortnightly DecomWorld news brief includes: Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, Oil & Gas UK; Treasury (in the UK), Oil & Gas UK; The SNP; Barclays Corporate.

UK oil industry at risk of under-investment

A survey indicates that the UK oil industry is at risk of under-investment over the next 20 years, according to a report filed by Reuters.

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North Sea decommissioning and offshore wind on collision course

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:57:15 +0000

Précis:

DecomWorld speaks to Angela MacCormack, lead author of the latest decommissioning report from Douglass-Westwood & Deloitte, to learn more the pending choke points in North Sea decommissioning.

Interview by Rikki Stancich

A £47.5 billion business opportunity is opening up for companies active in the North Sea oil and gas decommissioning market, according to a new report from Deloitte and Douglas-Westwood.

The key beneficiaries include UK, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway, and Ireland. According to the report, the bulk of decommissioning activity and related spend will occur between 2016 and 2031.

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4th Annual Decommissioning & Abandonment Summit, GOM

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:18:23 +0000

Event Date:

Thu, 2012-03-22 - Fri, 2012-03-23

Event URL:

http://www.decomworld.com/decommissioning/

Event Location:

Houston, Texas, USA

Number of attendees:

800

Programme URL:

http://www.decomworld.com/decommissioning/agenda.shtml

Brochure URL:

http://www.decomworld.com/decommissioning/download-brochure.shtml

Speakers URL:

http://www.decomworld.com/decommissioning/speakers.shtml

Event Organiser:

Dean Murphy

Event Organiser E-mail:

dmurphy@decomworld.com

Précis:

Utilize latest industry experience to reduce costs, improve safety & mitigate risk on all future decommissioning projects

Barclays Corporate: "Cautiously optimistic" about the North Sea's future

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:18:20 +0000

Précis:

Barclays Corporate's head of oil and gas, Walter Cumming, says all eyes are on the 2012 budget as the oil and gas industry hopes to see longer-term certainty and clarity in areas such as decommissioning.

A theme of "cautious optimism" remains as we move towards the end of 2011, says Walter Cumming, head of oil and gas at Barclays Corporate. The North Sea "still presents significant investment opportunities."

"The stable commodity price and the discovery of new plays in the Norwegian and UK sectors have given buyers the confidence to engage in further activity and acquisitions," he adds.

For banks, the appetite to lend continues to grow, particularly for companies with good business propositions and diverse portfolios.

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North Sea decommissoning: Clarity needed on licensing changes

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:36:51 +0000

Précis:

The UK oil and gas industry must contend not only with “chronic fiscal instability” but also changes to the marine licensing system. Both will affect decommissioning in different ways.

By Sam Phipps in Edinburgh

2011 has been a year of significant upheaval for operators and contractors in the UKCS and it is fair to say they are still working out the precise implications.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: October 25 – November 8

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:17:30 +0000

Précis:

BSEE appoints Chief of Offshore Regulatory ProgrammesThis week's edition of DecomWorld's fortnightly news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; PwC; Outer Continental Shelf Safety Oversight Board, BSEE; Department of Energy and Climate Chance, ITF, Project Development International; Energy Partners.

BSEE appoints Chief of Offshore Regulatory Programmes

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in the US, which is responsible for safety and environmental oversight of offshore oil and gas operations, has chosen Doug Morris to serve as BSEE Chief of Offshore Regulatory Programmes.

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Fortnightly Intelligence Brief: Oct 11 – Oct 25

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:40:29 +0000

Précis:

This edition of DecomWorld’s fortnightly news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Oil & Gas UK; Global Energy Group, KBR, Wakelyn Trust; Highland & Islands Enterprise, Global Energy Group; Oil & Gas UK.

DTR doubts to be cleared by 2012

Industry trade association Oil & Gas UK, says uncertainty over access to decommissioning tax relief (DTR), should soon be cleared.

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US offshore oil and gas: Obama's target for deficit reduction

Rikki Stancich — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:48:54 +0000

Précis:

The US Senate on Tuesday night voted to kill President Barack Obama's US$447 billion jobs bill, a plan that some had feared could have wrought major changes for the offshore oil and gas decommissioning sector.

By Dan McCue, US correspondent

The Obama plan perished on a 50-49 vote in the 100-member, Democratically-controlled US Senate, where 60 votes would have been needed to prevent a filibuster by Republicans opposed to the plan.

The vote had originally been 51-48, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, switched his vote to “nay” to reserve the right to force a re-vote at as yet undetermined date.

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Wild well contingency: OSPRAG’s emergency legacy

Rikki Stancich — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:45:21 +0000

Précis:

Eighteen months after the worst oil spill in US history, the North Sea industry has published its own review on safety. What difference will the key findings make?

By Sam Phipps in Edinburgh

The Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010 not only killed 11 men and emptied almost 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, it also forced UK players to consider how to prevent – or handle – a similar emergency.

Last week in Aberdeen OSPRAG, the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group, which was set up a month after the BP spill, launched its final report.

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New rules for offshore NORM waste discharge

Rikki Stancich — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:58:54 +0000

Précis:

NORM waste is about to become subject to tighter regulation, and shifting views on best practice could eventually impact the rules on offshore NORM scale cleaning and waste discharge.

By Helen Campbell

From October 2011, while offshore operators will continue to be able to discharge waste from NORM- Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material- to the sea direct from offshore installations, the rules governing the onshore handling, treatment and waste disposal of NORM, also known as LSA, are tightening.

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Gannet Alpha: A trigger for tighter regulation?

Rikki Stancich — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:11:01 +0000

Précis:

The Gannet Alpha spill raises uncomfortable questions about the safety of the North Sea’s increasingly creaky oil platform estate.

By Jason Deign in Barcelona

The trouble at Gannet Alpha did not emerge until Friday August 12. Operator Royal Dutch Shell confirmed it had stemmed a leak in a flow line and was taking further measures to isolate it, including shutting the subsea well. But by then oil had been leaking for two days.

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Idle Iron mandate in breach of US Federal environmental laws?

Rikki Stancich — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:18:07 +0000

Précis:

The US The DOI’s ‘Notice to Lessees’ on idle iron in the Gulf of Mexico, which came into effect last October, threatens to wipe out the world’s largest collection of marine artificial habitats, and in doing so, places the mandate in conflict with several US Federal laws that protect marine organisms, according to a new report.

Interview by Rikki Stancich in Paris

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Fortnightly Intelligence Brief: July 21 – August 4

tonyjack — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:59:17 +0000

Précis:

21 July 2011 BOEMRE provides an update on reorganisation of MMSThis week’s DecomWorld news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Minerals Management Service, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Black Elk Energy; GeoSea, DEME Group, HGO Infra Sea Solutions, Beluga Hochtief Offshore, Beluga; Health and Safety Executive; Heerema Marine Contractors Netherlands, Reef Subsea, Technocean, Conoco Phillips Skandinavia, Perry Slingsby

BOEMRE provides an update on reorganisation of MMS

Washington, D.C.-based Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has shared that it is in the process of reorganising the former Minerals Management Service (MMS) into three strong, separate agencies within the Department of the Interior.

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