Decommissioning and abandonment

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Decommissioning and abandonment

CURRENT STATUS FOR PLATFORMS

ƒ Platforms ƒ Structures under 10 000 tonnes removed ƒ Remaining 34 structures case-by-case – derogation? ƒ 112 000 tonne Maureen removed 2001 ƒ Gravity structure with base storage tanks ƒ Refloated and towed to fjord

ƒ No buyer found ƒ Now scrapped

The OSPAR meeting agreed that the smaller platforms should be removed, and that larger structures should be evaluated. In 2001, the 112 000 tonne (120 000 US ton) Maureen gravity platform with a height of 241 m (790 ft) was refloated and towed to a Norwegian fjord for disposal. Originally, it was hoped to resell the unit intact, but there were no buyers. It has been scrapped. There are currently plans to remove a number of steel jackets from the North Sea, whereas, for some of the early concrete structures this is extremely difficult and they are being left in place. Derogation is the partial revocation of a law.

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