Ray
09-30-2009, 06:48 PM
Shell’s Eugene Island 331A Jacket Donated to Louisiana’s Rigs-to-Reef Program for Fisheries Enhancement
What happens to offshore oil and gas structures in the Gulf of Mexico when they have reached the end of their productive lives? Typically, decommissioned platforms are safely removed and taken ashore for disposal per regulatory requirements.
But an alternative for the Eugene Island (EI) 331A platform located 155 miles southwest of New Orleans was for Shell to recycle and transform it into a valuable marine habitat as part of the environmentally beneficial program known as “Rigs-to-Reef”.
http://sww.shell.com/home/news/1989709541/EI_lift.jpg
Rigs-to-Reef is a national program developed by the U.S. Mineral Management Service in the early 1980s to promote reef construction opportunities made possible from the decommissioning of the steel structure (most of which is underwater) that holds the topsides (the part of the platform above water that’s visible) on offshore platforms.
For over twenty years, oil and gas companies have collaborated with coastal states, including Texas and Louisiana, to retire their obsolete structures at approved offshore sites designated as suitable artificial reef environments. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, these structures “make ideal artificial reefs because they are environmentally safe, are constructed of highly durable and stable material that withstands displacement or breakup and already support a thriving reef ecosystem.”
EI 331A was originally installed in 1972 as a fixed offshore structure in 242 feet water depth. It served as a production facility until 2005 and was then operated as a pipeline hub platform. In September 2008, the platform was hit by the fierce waves and wind of Hurricane Ike. Having suffered severe damage from the hurricane, both the topsides and support structure, or “jacket”, of EI 331A were evaluated for repair and restoration. While the topsides was deemed salvageable, Shell engineers determined it was not feasible to repair the jacket due to the number of broken or severely damaged structural members located below the water surface.
Shell then began to assess this piece of infrastructure as a potential candidate for the Rigs-to-Reef program and earlier this year sealed its commitment to make the donation to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which administers the state’s Artificial Reef Program.
The final jacket reefing took place on September 20, 2009, after a topsides and deck removal campaign was completed over the summer. The steel jacket structure, comprised of eight legs and weighing almost 3000 tons, was cut loose from the ocean floor utilizing special cutting tools which were inserted into the jacket legs in order to make cuts 15 feet below the mudline. No explosive cutting was used during the project. The jacket was lifted and then towed a short distance, where it was toppled to its final position as an artificial reef in EI 313. Underwater ROV cameras documented fish and other marine life following the jacket during its tow operation and reefing. Shell commissioned the Versabuild heavy lift system, known as the Bottom Feeder, to carry out the mammoth lifting, transporting and toppling operations of the jacket.
Commented Randy Abadie, the Shell engineer responsible for the project, “This is the first major Rigs-to-Reef project that Shell has done in years, and we feel that the learnings from this experience will be beneficial for future abandonments and reefing opportunities.”
In addition to the positive impact of the rig-turned-artificial reef on fisheries enhancement, there are also mutual financial benefits realized by both the operator and the state. Facility abandonment savings are shared equally between the owner and state under the terms of this program. States utilize these donations to both manage the artificial reefing sites and study their long-term benefits to marine habitats.
Shell will host an event in October where media and other stakeholders will be invited to witness the formal presentation of the check to the state of Louisiana and receive a full project briefing including video of the lift and toppling events. Invitees will include representatives of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Minerals Management Service, Coastal Conservation Association (a recreational fishing stakeholder organization), the Louisiana Seafood and Marketing Promotion Board (a commercial fishing and seafood stakeholder organization), and local Gulf Coast and trade media.
What happens to offshore oil and gas structures in the Gulf of Mexico when they have reached the end of their productive lives? Typically, decommissioned platforms are safely removed and taken ashore for disposal per regulatory requirements.
But an alternative for the Eugene Island (EI) 331A platform located 155 miles southwest of New Orleans was for Shell to recycle and transform it into a valuable marine habitat as part of the environmentally beneficial program known as “Rigs-to-Reef”.
http://sww.shell.com/home/news/1989709541/EI_lift.jpg
Rigs-to-Reef is a national program developed by the U.S. Mineral Management Service in the early 1980s to promote reef construction opportunities made possible from the decommissioning of the steel structure (most of which is underwater) that holds the topsides (the part of the platform above water that’s visible) on offshore platforms.
For over twenty years, oil and gas companies have collaborated with coastal states, including Texas and Louisiana, to retire their obsolete structures at approved offshore sites designated as suitable artificial reef environments. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, these structures “make ideal artificial reefs because they are environmentally safe, are constructed of highly durable and stable material that withstands displacement or breakup and already support a thriving reef ecosystem.”
EI 331A was originally installed in 1972 as a fixed offshore structure in 242 feet water depth. It served as a production facility until 2005 and was then operated as a pipeline hub platform. In September 2008, the platform was hit by the fierce waves and wind of Hurricane Ike. Having suffered severe damage from the hurricane, both the topsides and support structure, or “jacket”, of EI 331A were evaluated for repair and restoration. While the topsides was deemed salvageable, Shell engineers determined it was not feasible to repair the jacket due to the number of broken or severely damaged structural members located below the water surface.
Shell then began to assess this piece of infrastructure as a potential candidate for the Rigs-to-Reef program and earlier this year sealed its commitment to make the donation to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which administers the state’s Artificial Reef Program.
The final jacket reefing took place on September 20, 2009, after a topsides and deck removal campaign was completed over the summer. The steel jacket structure, comprised of eight legs and weighing almost 3000 tons, was cut loose from the ocean floor utilizing special cutting tools which were inserted into the jacket legs in order to make cuts 15 feet below the mudline. No explosive cutting was used during the project. The jacket was lifted and then towed a short distance, where it was toppled to its final position as an artificial reef in EI 313. Underwater ROV cameras documented fish and other marine life following the jacket during its tow operation and reefing. Shell commissioned the Versabuild heavy lift system, known as the Bottom Feeder, to carry out the mammoth lifting, transporting and toppling operations of the jacket.
Commented Randy Abadie, the Shell engineer responsible for the project, “This is the first major Rigs-to-Reef project that Shell has done in years, and we feel that the learnings from this experience will be beneficial for future abandonments and reefing opportunities.”
In addition to the positive impact of the rig-turned-artificial reef on fisheries enhancement, there are also mutual financial benefits realized by both the operator and the state. Facility abandonment savings are shared equally between the owner and state under the terms of this program. States utilize these donations to both manage the artificial reefing sites and study their long-term benefits to marine habitats.
Shell will host an event in October where media and other stakeholders will be invited to witness the formal presentation of the check to the state of Louisiana and receive a full project briefing including video of the lift and toppling events. Invitees will include representatives of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Minerals Management Service, Coastal Conservation Association (a recreational fishing stakeholder organization), the Louisiana Seafood and Marketing Promotion Board (a commercial fishing and seafood stakeholder organization), and local Gulf Coast and trade media.