Research

This project delivered a technical guidelines for end-of-life pipeline decommissioning and abandonment, based on international practices translated for Australian situations. The project established procedures for decommissioning with a focus on abandonment in-place and accelerated corrosion options to degrade the pipe material into the surrounding soil. The procedures put forward are aimed to minimise the operators’ liability towards the decommissioned pipeline, regarding maintenance, inspections, and active land use.

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The research provides an industry guideline based on review of the status of industry practices and emerging techniques and technologies that can be applied to the decommissioning and abandonment of pipelines. This guideline provides certainty for the management of project/pipeline life-cycle costs, enabling accurate costing of projects and develop the ability to understand the required provisions for end of life activities.

There are clear environmental, safety and economic outcomes from the project, as abandoned pipelines represent significant challenges to industry partners. Critically, the developed methodologies will enable safe decommissioning of pipelines, as well as reduce the impact the decommissioning process and final state of the abandoned pipeline will have on the environment. The economic impacts of the project’s outcomes will assist industry partners minimise their liability in handling these abandon assets.

Douglas Proud

Research & Utilisation Program Coordinator

douglas.proud@futurefuelscrc.com