Decommissioning of offshore production systems and evolution of operationsin the brazilian scenario

Abstract

The decommissioning of oil and gas facilities is an indispensable stage in the production life cycle, marked by the deactivation and safe and responsible disposal of platforms, subsea systems, and wells that have reached the end of their productive life. This process involves different interdependent phases, such as detailed planning, environmental studies, the conditioning and safe disposal of equipment, the permanent isolation of wells, and the assessment of marine environment conditions, which characterizes it as highly technically complex and requires strict compliance with regulations. Among the greatest challenges are the management of waste generated, the mitigation of operational risks, and the reduction of associated costs, in a context where the activity is not optional, but rather mandatory and strategic to ensure safety and sustainability. In recent years, decommissioning has gained greater relevance on the world stage, driven by factors such as the drop in oil prices and the obsolescence of facilities that have already reached the end of their design life. In regions such as the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, these experiences are already consolidated. However, the Brazilian reality presents specificities that make the issue more complex, as there are still obstacles: technical, environmental.