Offshore Installations and Structures

Research Materials on Rigs-to-Reefs Research Guide

International

a. Framework on offshore installations, and man made structures at sea, as regards jurisdiction, placement and removal

i. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
(entered into force 16 November 1994; adopted and opened for signature on 10 December 1982)
– especially Articles 56 and 60

ii. 1989 Guidelines and Standards for the Removal of Offshore Installations and Structures on the Continental Shelf and in the Exclusive Economic Zone, IMO Resolution A.672 (16) (1989 Guidelines)
(adopted on 19 October 1989)
– especially Paragraph 3

b. Placement of offshore installations at sea for disposal

i. UNCLOS
– especially Articles 1, 3, 210, and 216

ii. 1972 London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1046 UNTS 120
(entered into force 30 August 1975; opened for signature 29 November 1972)
– especially Articles 1, 3, 4, and 6; Annexes 2 and 3

iii. 1996 Protocol to the 1972 London Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter, 2006 ATS 11
(entered into force 24 March 2006; opened for signature 7 November 1996)
– especially Articles 1 and 3; Annexes 1 and 2

iv. 1997 Guidelines for the Assessment of Wastes or Other Matter that may be Considered for Dumping
(adopted in 1997 at the 20th Consultative Meeting of the Parties to the London Convention)

v. 2000 Specific Guidelines for Assessment of Platforms or other Man-Made Structures at Sea
(adopted in 2000 at the 22nd Consultative Meeting of the Parties to the London Convention)

vi. 2000 London Convention Guidelines for the Assessment of Wastes and other Matter that May be Considered for Dumping

c. Abandonment

i. Report of the Eleventh Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 3-7 October 1988 LDC 11/14, 8 November 1988 (on the disposal of offshore installations and structures)

ii. Report of the Thirteenth Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 29 October – 2 November 1990, LDC 13/15, 18 December 1990

d. Placement of offshore installations as artificial reefs

i. 1989 Guidelines and Standards for the Removal of Offshore Installations and Structures on the Continental Shelf and in the Exclusive Economic Zone
– especially Paragraphs 2, 3

ii. 2009 London Convention and Protocol / UNEP Guidelines for the Placement of Artificial Reefs

iii. 2013 Amendment to the London Protocol ‘To Regulate the Placement of Matter for Ocean Fertilisation and Other Marine Geoengineering Activities’ – Report of the 35th Consultative Meeting and the Eighth Meeting of Contracting Parties, Annex 4, 21 October 2–13, LC 35/15 (not yet in force)

Regional

a. ASCOPE Decommissioning Guidelines for Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities (not yet released to the public. Refer to future updates on ASCOPE web page, online: www.ascope.org/home/6-projects/29-adg.htm

b. 1992 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR).

c. 1998 OSPAR Decision 98/3 on the Disposal of Disused Offshore Installations

d. 1999 OSPAR Guidelines on Artificial Reefs in relation to Living Marine Resources

e. 1978 Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution (adopted in 1978 and in force in 1979)

f. 1989 Protocol Concerning Marine Pollution resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf (adopted in 1989 and in force in 1990)

g. 1994 Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution Resulting From Exploration And Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil (signed 14 October 1995 in Madrid, Spain; not yet in force)

Domestic

a. Australia

Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A02478)

b. Brunei

Guidelines for Decommissioning, Abandonment and Restoration of the Oil and Gas Industry Assets in Brunei Darussalam, September 2009 (http://www.energy.gov.bn/HSE/Documents/DAR Guideline Sept 09.pdf)

c. Indonesia

Article 21(1) of Government Regulation No. 17 of 16 April 1974 concerning the supervision of oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation activities in offshore areas provides for the complete decommissioning and disposal of offshore installations that are no longer in use, taking into account the safety of navigation

(State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Year 1974 Number 20, English translation accessible online: http://www.skkmigas.go.id/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Government-Regulation-No.-17-of-1974.pdf)

d. Vietnam

e. New Zealand

Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Regulations 1998
(http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1998/0208/latest/DLM253727.html)