Subsea Repair and Decommissioning Optimized Solutions

Objectives/Scope This presentation includes a review of the principles and solutions for efficient repair of pipelines, flowlines and risers related to cost-effectiveness when considering ESG and sustainability. The various possibilities considering repair versus decommissioning are handled with focus on optimized solutions. Methods, Procedures, Process IK-Subsea has for more than 37 years of operation developed several tools, solutions and products for the operators with subsea assets. The design and solutions have mostly been related to repair of old flowlines, pipelines and riser, and also equipment for recovery and decommissioning. During the recent years, these activities have increased in extent and numbers with several new challenges related to efficient and safe operations and issues related to spillage. Therefore, IK-Subsea have developed several new tools focusing on avoiding spillage and enabling quicker and more efficient repair or recovery of pipelines, flowlines and risers. Results, Observations, Conclusions The need for safe recovery of old facilities filled with polluted elements / hydrocarbons can be performed safely by use of specialized isolation tools, such as plugs and caps. These tools are typically operated by ROVs with the adherent operational requirements. The required recovery operation such as lifting of assets to be decommissioned have several challenges as the integrity of the assets itself will be questioned. This typically apply for old flowlines, flexible and risers where the tool design need to consider this weak element of the recovery operations. The repair solutions used in the late life of the assets need to consider the decommissioning to be performed. However, the best and most optimal approach of handling the old lines is to continue the operation by continuously monitoring the integrity and perform the preventive measures as required. This is the optimal approach considering both the environmental and financial aspect. ( ESG and sustainability ) Novel/Additive Information During the late life operation of subsea assets, the evaluations related to extending the lifetime by performing the required repair operations is considered versus the ongoing operational cost and then the later decommissioning to be performed. This presentation will give the audience additional understanding of the possibilities that these solutions can optimize the late life field operations.