Abstract

Offshore oil activities utilize platforms for many purposes such as production well, processing, quarters, junction, flare, bridge support and hose tripod.

There are 7270 platforms spreader all over the world; Asia has 1238 (17%) of the platform population, Australia 68 (1%), Europe 400 (6%), America 4348 (60%), Africa 480 (7%) and Middle East 700 (9%).

International Conventions such as Geneva Convention on Continental Shelf 1958, United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, the London Dumping Convention 1972 and International Maritime Organization (IMO) Guidelines 1989, oblige for removal of all offshore structures after production operation.

The platforms have various water depths that have influenced to the removal cost as well as technology used. The removal cost in the North Sea is more expensive than in the Java Sea or Gulf of Mexico due to deeper water. The platform removal cost is various, from US $ 1 million (in the Java Sea, Gulf of Mexico) to US $ 20 million (in the North Sea area).

Due to expensive cost for the platform removal, oil industries try to find solution for utilizing platforms of post production operation that is cost effective and comply to the regulation and international conventions.

Possibilities of utilization of post production operation platform are re-use, recycle, dispose to onshore, artificial reef, ecotourism and other uses such as marine research, telecommunication and light house.