The Role of an Oil Rig Decommissioning Company
The process involved in decommissioning an oil rig is very difficult, costly and time consuming. When an oil rig needs to be decommissioned a decommissioning company will be contracted in to take care of the work but a lot of people will be wondering what the job entails. It is a very complex process and it requires companies with skills in decommissioning. North Sea decommissioning for example, can be very tricky because the conditions there are very harsh. There can be many difficulties to overcome so it is really important that the company in charge knows what it is doing.
Choosing the Decommissioning Company Carefully
When it comes to oil rig decommissioning, this can take place on land or offshore and where the rig is will determine the process of decommissioning. North Sea rigs for example are going to take more time, and will probably be more expensive to get the job completed. Many oil companies will have to think very carefully about the company they choose to take care of the decommissioning and there will be a lot of different factors that are taken into account. Decommissioning companies with past experience and good reputations will always have more luck when it comes to securing these contracts.
Cost of Decommissioning
One of the biggest things to think about is the cost when it comes to decommissioning. North Sea oil rigs will usually cost anywhere between thirty and two hundred million pounds to decommission. The size of the structure will determine how much it actually costs. The government in the UK provides a rebate for decommissioning costs of up to 75 percent for those who leased the oil field before 1993.
Main Considerations
The main issue for a decommissioning company is the size and weight of the structure that needs to be dismantled. With the smaller structures weighing up to 10,000 tonnes and larger structures weighing up to a staggering 150,000 tonnes, you can see why there is a lot of work involved. This steel needs to be cut up and then taken to a base onshore where it will be recycled for other projects in the future. However the process of actually cutting the rig can take a lot of manpower and quite a bit of time so this will help you to understand why the cost can be so high.
Dealing with Potential Problems
A lot of problems can arise when it comes to oil rig decommissioning. North Sea conditions can make the job much harder but thankfully there have been numerous advances in technology which have made these jobs easier for those involved. With many concerns over the environment, decommissioning companies are now working to ensure that oil rig decommissioning is a much more environmentally friendly process.