Introduction

This course covers the essential strategies, regulations, and best practices for decommissioning oil and gas facilities. Participants will gain insights into planning, environmental management, and safety considerations for decommissioning wells, platforms, and other infrastructure while exploring cost-effective and sustainable decommissioning practices.

Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals and regulatory requirements of oil and gas decommissioning.
• Learn about decommissioning planning, execution, and best practices.
• Explore techniques for well plugging and abandonment, dismantling, and site remediation.
• Develop insights into risk management, environmental protection, and cost control.
• Analyze future trends in sustainable and innovative decommissioning practices.

Who Should Attend?

This course is suitable for:

• Project managers, engineers, and operations staff in oil and gas decommissioning.
• Environmental specialists and safety officers responsible for decommissioning.
• Regulatory and compliance professionals in oil and gas.
• Recent graduates interested in decommissioning, environmental science, or energy.

Course Outline

Day 1: Fundamentals of Oil and Gas Decommissioning

• Introduction to Decommissioning and Abandonment
  • Overview of decommissioning in the oil and gas lifecycle
  • Key stages in decommissioning: planning, execution, and monitoring
• Regulatory Framework and Compliance
  • Overview of global decommissioning regulations and compliance requirements
  • Role of government and regulatory bodies in decommissioning approvals
• Environmental and Social Considerations
  • Understanding the environmental impact of decommissioning projects
  • Importance of community engagement and managing public perception

Day 2: Planning and Cost Estimation in Decommissioning

• Decommissioning Planning and Project Management
  • Techniques for developing comprehensive decommissioning plans
  • Establishing timelines, goals, and risk management strategies
• Cost Estimation and Financial Planning
  • Techniques for estimating decommissioning costs and budget control
  • Overview of cost allocation, liability, and financial assurance mechanisms
• Risk Assessment and Contingency Planning
  • Identifying and mitigating decommissioning risks
  • Contingency planning for unexpected challenges during decommissioning

Day 3: Techniques for Well Plugging and Abandonment

• Well Abandonment Procedures and Standards
  • Overview of well plugging and abandonment (P&A) techniques
  • Understanding cementing, plugging, and isolation standards
• Subsea and Offshore Well Abandonment
  • Special considerations for offshore and subsea well decommissioning
  • Techniques for managing deepwater wells and complex abandonment scenarios
• Long-Term Monitoring and Environmental Compliance
  • Techniques for ensuring well integrity and monitoring abandoned wells
  • Overview of post-abandonment compliance and environmental obligations

Day 4: Dismantling and Site Remediation

• Dismantling of Offshore Platforms and Structures
  • Techniques for dismantling platforms, jackets, and subsea installations
  • Overview of heavy lifting, modular removal, and deconstruction methods
• Onshore Facility Decommissioning and Site Remediation
  • Techniques for dismantling onshore facilities and restoring the land
  • Soil remediation, groundwater protection, and site cleanup standards
• Waste Management and Material Recycling
  • Sustainable approaches to managing decommissioning waste
  • Recycling and repurposing materials to minimize environmental impact

Day 5: Case Studies and Future of Decommissioning

• Case Studies in Oil and Gas Decommissioning
  • Analysis of successful decommissioning projects and best practices
  • Lessons learned in cost control, risk mitigation, and sustainability
• Future of Sustainable Decommissioning Practices
  • Trends in sustainable decommissioning, circular economy, and repurposing
  • Role of new technologies: robotics, AI, and remote monitoring
• Final Project: Comprehensive Decommissioning Plan
  • Participants develop a decommissioning strategy for a hypothetical offshore or onshore facility, including cost estimation, environmental compliance, and risk management
• Preparing for Future Challenges in Decommissioning
  • Techniques for adapting to regulatory changes and environmental expectations
  • Role of innovation and continuous improvement in future decommissioning projects