Courses

Every field reaches the end of its life. When that happens, the wells must be sealed for ever, the platforms, FPSOs and pipelines must be removed or safely left in place, and someone has to pay. In this advanced course, you follow the team of the fictitious operator Atlântico Sul Petróleos as it prepares the decommissioning of a mature field: the end of economic life and life extension; the international framework, with UNCLOS, IMO Resolution A.672(16) and the IOGP regulatory overviews (Reports 584 and 585); permanent plugging and abandonment of wells, with barriers and verification; the removal options for platforms, FPSOs, pipelines and umbilicals, with comparative assessment and recycling; cost estimation, provisions and abandonment funds, with a spreadsheet exercise; and the environment, hazardous materials and consultation with communities and fishers. It ends with the outline of a decommissioning plan. Content aligned with the international references cited; the specific obligations are those of the applicable law. The course is delivered in Portuguese.

What you will learn

• Explain the reasons for and the timing of decommissioning and the international framework, including UNCLOS and IMO Resolution A.672(16).
• Describe the permanent plugging and abandonment of wells, including barriers, their verification and the particular features of subsea wells.
• Compare the removal options for platforms, FPSOs, pipelines and umbilicals using a comparative assessment.
• Estimate the cost of decommissioning and explain provisions, abandonment funds and financial security.
• Manage environmental aspects, hazardous materials and stakeholder engagement, including fishing communities.
• Draft the outline of a decommissioning plan for a fictitious mature field.

Modules

1. Why and when to decommission80 min
2. Well abandonment81 min
3. Removal of facilities79 min
4. Planning, costs and provisions80 min
5. Environment and stakeholders81 min
6. Integrated case79 min

Who it is for

Asset managers, well and facilities engineers, HSE and regulatory staff