The move away from traditional fossil fuels and towards renewable energy is accelerating. New, creative solutions are coming online to reuse current offshore oil and gas infrastructure. The most exciting new potential is the ability to repurpose offshore pipelines and platforms. These facilities are uniquely positioned now to be able to produce, store, and transport hydrogen. Combined, these initiatives provide a powerful shot in the arm for the green energy industry. They will guide efforts to meet the challenges posed by decommissioning legacy oil and gas installations.
In perhaps the best recent example of this, SpaceX just purchased two decommissioned oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. The firm’s goal is to make these buildings offshore launch pads, meant for supporting its expansive Starship program. This decision demonstrates the ways space exploration and energy sectors can intersect, repurposing established infrastructure in innovative fashions. The UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has identified opportunities to reclaim and reuse decommissioned offshore infrastructure. They stress that effective government leadership will be key to this transformative endeavor.
Repurposing offshore infrastructure is not just an American phenomenon or confined to rocket launches. In Europe, companies like Nexstep and TNO are exploring innovative methods to convert retired jacket foundations into substructures for wind turbines or offshore substations. This partnership is designed to focus on maximizing the potential of what’s already built while being more mindful of our environmental footprint.
Government Leadership in Repurposing Efforts
As the NSTA’s Head of Decommissioning, Alastair Bisset, has highlighted, the role of government leadership is critical in enabling these transitions. As NSTA executive director, Paul Tiberius, wrote, NSTA analysis found over 100 pipelines that could be repurposed for CCS or hydrogen projects. Coupled with fleet transition this can save hundreds of millions of pounds. That avoids having to design, build, or install new pipelines. His comments reflect a growing recognition that strategic planning and policy support are essential for realizing the potential of repurposed infrastructure.
Jon Gluyas, the Orsted/Ikon chair in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) at Durham University, emphasized the exceptional opportunities that gas fields provide. Specifically, he zeroed in on those positioned offshore of East Anglia and Liverpool Bay. He posited that much of the expertise developed in the oil and gas industry is directly transferable to CCS operations. “Ultimately, the government needs to lead the way, just as it did to develop the oil and gas industry in the first place in the 1960s,” he noted.
That conversation about moving away from fossil fuels to renewable energy is starting to happen. Adding green hydrogen production to offshore energy infrastructure is a potent approach for decarbonization. Julio Garcia Navarro, a prominent voice in this area, explained that “if you look at the platform infrastructure, most of it could be used for producing hydrogen.” This way of thinking fits in well with a larger movement to use what’s already built to help realize new energies and new energy economies.
Innovative Projects on the Horizon
A number of projects are already leading the way to this new era of transit. The HyNet North West project, spearheaded by Eni, represents one of the first implementations of CCS concepts in the UK. This project will employ 149 kilometers of converted pipelines. They will ship carbon dioxide from industrial facilities directly to empty gas wells under Liverpool Bay. This project is a perfect example of how reusing existing infrastructure can be a win-win for taxpayers and sustainability.
Additionally, interest is blossoming in using decommissioned oil rigs as offshore spaceports, a novel use of the structures. The Offshore Spaceport Alliance has floated the idea of establishing a North Sea offshore spaceport. This effort deepens the partnership and confusion between energy extraction and space exploration. Italy is considering the revival of an ocean launch pad established in the 1960s off the coast of Kenya. This action recognizes a worldwide trend of re-envisioning old maritime assets for new directions.
The “Rigs-to-Reefs” idea is gaining popularity nationwide. Recently decommissioned oil rigs are being turned into artificial reefs, increasing the marine biodiversity of these structures. Tyler Sclodnick remarked, “When you are farming fish, you obviously need infrastructure in the water.” These initiatives are positive for the marine environment and provide a sustainable way to handle decommissioned structures.
The Future of Offshore Infrastructure
As industries shift in new and greener directions, conversations about offshore infrastructure are dynamic and ever-changing. The integration of renewable energy sources such as hydrogen and wind power with existing oil and gas structures presents a promising avenue for reducing carbon footprints while maximizing resource efficiency.
While our experts are optimistic that when more stakeholders participate in these efforts, major progress will be made in the decade to come. As Sclodnick saw it, the biggest changes are almost guaranteed over the next decade. As these changes continue, the pen, technology, expertise, and support service costs will decrease, making them more feasible.