The current domestic energy landscape in the United States is dynamic. Oil/gas energy production is fast developing in some areas and declining, reaching end of life in other areas. As this dynamic plays-out, retired energy facilities are faced with decommissioning.

The aging infrastructure of historic oil and gas production facilities in North America has created a real need for professionals with decommissioning expertise. It is important to focus on end of life asset management, to define the options for these oil and gas facilities well before they actually reach the end of life. Divestment and future use options should be evaluated before decommissioning commences. Once decommissioning is identified as the best option for a facility, it is important to develop a strategy that identifies the major risks at the facility. There are many pre-assessment activities that will optimize the execution of a decommissioning project, and identifying those activities and the waste that will be generated is a big first step towards a successful completion. Waste characterization and management, asset recovery, regulatory interface, suspension (make safe), scrap/ metal management, and restoration are all important elements of a successful decommissioning project. By engaging early in the decommissioning and end of life processes, better and more informed decisions can be made to optimize and bring value to these facility closures.

This presentation will provide an overview of Onshore Oil and Gas Facility decommissioning, and will highlight the unique challenges that Oil and Gas Operators have during decommissioning and demolition activities.