Development of an Eco-Sustainable Solution for the Second Life of Decommissioned Oil and Gas Platforms: The Mineral Accretion Technology

Lucia Margheritini, Giuseppina Colaleo, Pasquale Contestabile, Trine Larsen Bjørgård, Morten Enggrob Simonsen, Caterina Lanfredi, Antonio Dell’Anno and Diego Vicinanza
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Lucia Margheritini: Department of Engineering, University of Campania, via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Caserta, Italy
Giuseppina Colaleo: Department of Engineering, University of Campania, via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Caserta, Italy
Pasquale Contestabile: Department of Engineering, University of Campania, via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Caserta, Italy
Trine Larsen Bjørgård: Department of Civil Engineering, Division of Water and Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark
Morten Enggrob Simonsen: Department of Civil Engineering, Division of Water and Environment, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark
Caterina Lanfredi: Department of Engineering, University of Campania, via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Caserta, Italy
Antonio Dell’Anno: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Diego Vicinanza: Department of Engineering, University of Campania, via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Caserta, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: With the approaching end of the productive lives of offshore oil and gas platforms, the issue about decommissioning and what to do with existing structures arises. In this regard, this study aims to test solutions, at a preliminary level, for the eco-sustainable reuse of platforms at the end of their extraction phase. In particular, mineral accretion technology is applied by low-voltage electrolysis of seawater due to the precipitation of calcium carbonate on a cathode material in order to assess the protection capacity of the platforms against corrosion. This approach allows the extension of a platform’s “life” under a more sustainable purpose. The results, derived from laboratory and field experiments, will allow us to reduce uncertainties and define the best operating conditions to increase the efficiency of the mineral accretion technology in the marine ecosystem. The data collection on the main parameters that influence the process (i.e., temperature, salinity, and applied current) and the quantitative analysis of the collected material allowed us to acquire a better knowledge about mineral composition and deposition rate.

Keywords: decommissioning, oil and gas platforms; mineral accretion technology; calcareous deposits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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