Session: 12-06-01 Blue Economy VI: Offshore Decommissioning, Circular Economy, and Maritime Emissions Reduction

Submission Number: 182050

The Circularity Challenge in Offshore Decommissioning: an Analysis of Flexible Pipeline Dismantling in Brazil 

The decommissioning of oil and gas installations is a complex and multidisciplinary process that requires systematic planning, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Over the last decade, there has been growing concern over how to manage this process when offshore infrastructure reaches the end of its operational life. This challenge is increasingly situated within the broader context of the Blue Economy (BE), a paradigm focused on the sustainable use of maritime resources. Aligned with both BE principles and the emerging needs of a Circular Economy (CE), oil and gas companies are exploring new strategies for waste management. These efforts focus on maximizing the reuse and recycling of materials and components, among other sustainability initiatives. However, the recycling of flexible pipelines presents unique challenges, as they are composed of multiple concentric layers of metallic and polymeric materials. The separation of these components is a complex process, depending on the dismantling method adopted. In the Brazilian context, the high volume of decommissioned flexible pipelines highlights the relevance of the topic and the need for effective management strategies. This study aims to address the dismantling of pipelines dismantling as a necessary pre-treatment step for their recycling in Brazil by examining two distinct technological dismantling routes. Adopting a multidisciplinary perspective, this paper presents a structured analysis of the approaches currently implemented in Brazil, highlighting the key challenges and potential opportunities related to the dismantling and recycling of flexible pipes.

Presenting Author: Laís Bubach Carvalho Simão Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Presenting Author Biography: PhD candidate at the Ergonomics and Projects Laboratory (COPPE/UFRJ), in the area of Safety, Innovation, Work, and Entrepreneurship. She holds a Master's degree in Production Engineering, a specialization in Occupational Safety Engineering, and a degree in Architecture and Urbanism. Her research and professional activities are focused on the Oil and Gas sector, with an emphasis on the following themes: Ergonomics and Workplace Design, Worker Health and Safety, Sustainable Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Production Systems, Integrated Control Centers, Safety Culture, and the integration of Human and Organizational Factors in Industrial Safety practices.

Authors:

Laís Bubach Carvalho Simão Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Isabela Fernandes De Oliveira Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Beatriz Bandeira Dos Santos Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Fernanda Rodrigues Lago Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Ana Tereza Marques Parente Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Franciso José De Castro Moura Duarte Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Marcelo Igor Lourenço De Souza Federal University of Rio de Janeiro