A new addition to our Rigs-to-Reefs+++ page courtesy of MaritimePhoto.
Photo: U.S. Navy / Journalist 2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley
Posts Tagged ‘rigs-to-reefs’
Rigs-to-Radar!
Posted in Offshore Energy - General, rigs-to-reefs, Uncategorized, tagged Blue Marlin, MaritimePhoto, Rigs-to-Radar, rigs-to-reefs on April 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Photo: U.S. Navy / Journalist 2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley
Rigs-to-Roosts!
Posted in Offshore Energy - General, Offshore Wind, rigs-to-reefs, tagged North Sea, rigs-to-reefs, Rigs-to-Roosts, Wenlock platform on August 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »
GUILDFORD, UK — Alpha Petroleum Resources, Energean UK and Orsted Hornsea Project Four will consider repurposing the Wenlock gas platform in the UK southern North Sea, which is nearing the end of its productive life.
One possibility is to reuse the facility as an artificial nesting site to offset the impact on certain bird species of offshore wind developments in the area.
Black-legged kittiwakes have set up nests on various North Sea platforms, according to Orsted’s recent surveys. Repurposing an existing platform as an artificial nesting structure is seen as an alternative to building a new artificial nesting structure to support the local development of the Hornsea Four offshore wind farm.
Offshore Magazine
The reef effect is more powerful than we thought😉, attracting even onshore fauna
Posted in Gulf of Mexico, rigs-to-reefs, Uncategorized, tagged Gulf of Mexico, offshore deer, rigs-to-reefs on August 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
This deer was encountered 1.5 miles offshore during a fishing trip. The deer was brought to shore and released. Happy ending!
Rigs-to-Rodin/Renaissance/Romance
Posted in Offshore Energy - General, rigs-to-reefs, Uncategorized, tagged rigs-to-reefs, Rigs-to-Renaissance, Rigs-to-Rodin, Rigs-to-Romance, See Monster on July 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »
SEE MONSTER is due to arrive by sea into Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday, 12 July. The transformation of this decommissioned North Sea offshore platform is a world first that is set to become one of the UK’s largest public art installations, aiming to inspire global conversations about the repurposing of large industrial structures and design-led solutions to sustainable futures.
Learn more about See Monster. Were they inspired by our Rigs-to-Reefs +++ page? 😀
Rigs-to-Rest-Retirement-RIP-Respect
Posted in drilling, Offshore Energy - General, rigs-to-reefs, Uncategorized, tagged Dalmore, rigs-to-reefs, rigs-to-rest, Scotland, transocean on May 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »
In 2016, this old Transocean semisubmersible was being towed from Norway to Malta prior to being scrapped in Turkey. The rig broke free and grounded at Dalmore, Scotland. This picture, with a Scottish cemetery in the foreground, is a fitting tribute to old rigs, the wells they drilled, the storms they endured, and the people they served.
The picture and title will be added to our world-famous Rigs-to-Reefs+++ page. Many thanks to those who have contributed to this important resource over the years.
Offshore production looks increasingly like this
Posted in Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General, rigs-to-reefs, tagged deepwater production, Gulf of Mexico, number of platforms, platform density, rigs-to-reefs on April 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Deepwater production is noteworthy for widely dispersed surface structures supplemented with subsea systems. In the past 30 years, the total number of Gulf of Mexico platforms declined by 50% while the oil production doubled. Of course, this level of production is not sustainable without regular lease sales and increased exploration. In that regard, the signs are not good.
435 GoM shelf platforms have been removed in just the last 5 years (2017-2021). The loss of platforms is accompanied by a loss of marine habitat that the rigs-to-reefs program has partially compensated for. There have been a number of other interesting proposals for the use of old platforms, some more serious than others.
Current number of Gulf of Mexico platforms by water depth:
| water depth | floating and fixed production platforms |
| all depths | 1757 |
| >400 m | 52 |
| >1000 m | 35 |
| >1500 m | 16 |
| >2000 m | 7 |
Will California platforms continue to serve as productive marine habitat?
Posted in California, decommissioning, Offshore Energy - General, tagged California platforms, decommissioning, rigs-to-reefs on March 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Excerpts from a good OC Register article on the ecological significance of the 27 platforms in State and Federal waters offshore California:
“All the (California) platforms having booming ecosystems underwater,” marine scientist Amber Sparks said at an Aquarium of the Pacific lecture in Long Beach on Wednesday, March 2.
“There’s a lot of real estate; a lot of nooks and crannies for marine life,” she said. “Scientists at the National Academy for the Sciences have found California’s platforms are some of the most productive marine habitat in the world.”
The Gulf of Mexico is the poster child for rigs-to-reefs, with more than 500 decommissioned oil platforms turned into full-time artificial reefs over the past 30 years. It’s bold testament to the habitat potential of the rigs, transforming the relatively sterile, sandy bottom ecosystem there into one with hundreds of prime locations for marine life.
Rigs to Roe (Redfish, Rockfish)!
Posted in decommissioning, energy policy, Gulf of Mexico, Offshore Energy - General, rigs-to-reefs, tagged aquaculture, GORI, Innovasea, rigs-to-reefs, rigs-to-roe on December 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »
An old offshore platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico is set to be converted into a working fish farm, creating a blueprint for future aquaculture re-use projects and providing repurposing options for old oil and gas assets.
offshore-energy.biz
Congratulations to the Gulf Offshore Research Institute (GORI) and Innovasea on their plans to transform an offshore Texas gas platform into a working fish farm.
For the complete list of alternative uses for offshore oil and gas platforms, see our Rigs-to-Reefs+++ page.
Jerry Schubel on the benefits of rigs-to-reefs programs
Posted in California, decommissioning, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, rigs-to-reefs, tagged California, decommissioning, Jerry Schubel, rigs-to-reefs on November 2, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Veteran marine science advocate Jerry Schubel, former president of Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific, is among those pushing for offshore oil platforms to be transformed for new ocean uses. He points out that the underwater portion of the structures already are a boon to marine life.
“They have enormous value as ecosystems because of the life that has grown on and around them,” he said.
He points out that other states have rigs-to-reefs programs — and California does as well, though it needs funding before it can function. Once the ball gets rolling, oil companies could be tapped to cover costs with fees drawn from the money they would save by not having to haul dismantled rigs ashore. Schubel estimated that turning platforms into reefs could cut decommissioning costs in half.
But Schubel says artificial reefs should be just the beginning. How about fish farms? Research labs? Windmills? Hotels for divers?
“The uses,” he said, “are limited only by our imagination.”
Orange County Register
Well said Dr. Schubel! For a full list of alternative uses for offshore platforms see the official Rigs-to-Reefs+++ page.
Rigs-to-Rides?
Posted in decommissioning, Uncategorized, tagged PIF, rigs-to-reefs, rigs-to-rides, Saudi Arabia, the Rig on October 20, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Are the Saudis reading BOE?
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced today the launch of “THE RIG.”, a new tourism project. Inspired by offshore oil platforms, “THE RIG.” will be located in the Arabian Gulf and will span a combined total area of more than 150,000 square meters and provide a multitude of hospitality offerings, adventures, and aquatic sporting experiences.
PIF News Release
Were they inspired by this BOE exclusive?
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 