Guideline for the Decommissioning/Abandonment of  Subsea Pipelines

Abstract: The operating lifespan of pipelines is limited, defined by their specific design codes and specifications, with the economic justification for this being determined primarily by the pipeline owner. During its operational lifespan, a pipeline’s integrity is affected mainly by the quality of the hydrocarbons being transported. The integrity of a pipeline can be maintained with regular inspections and maintenance/cleaning programmes followed from installation to commissioning. As production matures and declines, operators face several decisions concerning the pipeline’s future. There are several potential scenarios, and each should be assessed on a case-by-case basis for any specific pipeline in question. The industry best practices outline the minimum requirements for the safe decommissioning of pipelines. However, there currently need to be international specifications to be followed for the decommissioning of disused offshore pipelines. This paper aims to provide insight into the decommissioning and abandonment of offshore pipelines. Also, this article provides case studies for the decommissioning of subsea pipelines.

Author(s): Ahmed Reda, Chiemela Victor Amaechi, Luis Fernando Diaz Jimenez, Ibrahim A. Sultan & Andrew Rawlinson

Date Published: 19 December 2023

Depositing User: Basiratu Kolawole

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12010008

Keywords: Pipeline, decommissioning, abandonment, corrosion, umbilical & subsea structure

Pages: 1-45

Place of publication: Basel, Switzerland

Publication title: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Published URL: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jmse

Publisher: MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

Subject(s): Offshore Engineering, Subsea Pipeline Engineering, Marine and Coastal Engineering, Sustainable Infrastructure and Decommissioning Practices

Type of publication: Journal Article