• Region: Australia
• Topics: Decommissioning

A report by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering on Offshore oil and Gas Decommissioning Technologies has highlighted Australian research and technology capabilities and gaps.

The report argues that there are a number of areas where further R&D would benefit the decommissioning industry, particularly towards the end of the decommissioning value chain around waste management, recycling opportunities and the environmental impact of decommissioning. Australia’s focus on environmental protection will provide opportunities for further research both at home and abroad, the ATSE comments.

With world-leading marine research, strong transferable geotechnical skills from the mineral resources sector, and the government’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment, Australia has an opportunity to leverage this expertise and momentum to drive technology innovations in decommissioning which are suited to Australia’s unique marine ecosystems.

The report highlights Australian strengths in marine science and contamination research, making it well placed to lead research on the impact of contaminants on the environment and ecosystems. The nation is home to three major national marine science organisations – CSIRO, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, which produce world-leading marine research – as well as a number of other national centres of research excellence in this domain. The report identifies research gaps in contaminant profiling of infrastructure; contaminant exposure limits; mapping of contaminants through ecosystems; long-term impacts of contaminant exposure; real-time, in-field contaminant monitoring technologies; domestic facility re-use profiling; and integrity and environmental management for in situ decommissioning.

Another research strength is recycling; Australia has set ambitious targets for waste recovery and recycling, supported by funding into initiatives such as the AUD $250 million Recycling Modernisation Fund, and the establishment in 2024 of the Solving Plastic Waste Cooperative Research Centre, focused on designing out plastic waste and supporting the transitions of companies in Australia's plastics value chain. The report identifies research gaps in cleaning process optimisation; plastic waste recycling pathways; and new and improved waste recycling pathways.

With well-established oil and gas and mineral extraction industries, and the presence of large industry players driving technological and process innovations, Australia has the opportunity to leverage its expertise to facilitate research into oil and gas decommissioning technologies, the report suggests. Research gaps exist in waste transport approaches; waste management infrastructure and circular economy planning; long-term impacts of contaminant exposure; and domestic facility re-use profiling.

The report notes that Australia and its universities have limited expertise in developing technologies specifically for oil and gas decommissioning, suggesting that Australian universities should be encouraged to develop links with private industry and government research funding to develop the necessary expertise and address capability gaps in conjunction with universities with strengths in these areas, including those in Norway, the UK and the US Gulf of America.