Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act on September 14

[sfef84]

For those unaware, in the wake of the Deep Horizon Spill, a new law was passed that stated (layman terms) any platform that hasnt produced in 5 years will be removed. The removal process (and its' aftermath) have been documented over on 2cool.

From that forum, a link that forwards you to a "take action" CCA petition which is mailed to your respective congressman/woman. Just today, I received a response from Sen. Hutchison:


Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 1555, the Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

I understand the importance of conserving our natural resources and wildlife. Since 1990, Texas has used an artificial reef program to transform offshore rigs to reefs, resulting in the donation of over 100 offshore structures to the program.

In response to concerns about the U.S. Department of Interior program for converting decommissioned oil and gas platforms into artificial reefs for marine life, Senator David Vitter (R-LA) introduced the Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act on September 14, 2011. Under this legislation, a platform could not be removed until an assessment has been completed to determine the presence of coral populations or other protected species in the vicinity of the platform, and to identify any species with recreational or commercial value that were using the structure.

S. 1555 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, of which I am not a member. Should the bill come for consideration before the full Senate, you may be certain I will keep your views in mind.

I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)

http://hutchison.senate.gov

[sfef84]

Question:

She says the legislation was "introduced".... does that mean that platform demolition has ceased until the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources votes?

[Robalo]

No it doesn't. It means it is in Committee, then has to pass committee, then onto floor for debate/vote, then onto House for debate/vote, then onto El Supremo Assohola.

[corndog]

I recently attended a decommissioning luncheon. The are trying to put the rigs to reef on hold. I think they will limp along for a few years dragging their feet. One key point is there are very few docks to take these platforms to to be dismantled. Enviromental issues. South texas is the place they ae looking the hardest at. Another interesting fact was we have no experience removing platform in I believe it was 400' plus water depth. Those platform are removed a 100' or so below the water line. The number of platfroms that will require removal far exceeds the amount of equipment and technology available for many years to come. In other words there will be a big bottle neck to remove them regardless wherever they end up. There are a bunch of new companies gearing up to remove all of these platforms but they will not be able to take on all the work. Then it went onto talk about the platform of the coast of california and man they have no idea what to do there. Those platform are super structures compared to the gulf.They are talking about taing them to mexico because no place to tae them in US. Mexico says up yors. So in a nushell its alot bigger than just putting rigs to ree on hold it a monster that has few solutions at this moment. I have just summarized what I heard and hope the jist of what I said is accurate. I you know more please correct my statement.

[corndog]

Oh BTW when they are dealing with platforms that where destroyed by Ivan.Rita,Katrina and Ike. You have no idea how much time and money is being spent to remove those platforms. I compare it to the effort to get a man to the moon in the 60's. Obama is an IDIOT nuff said. Some great technologies is being developed from these task to remove all these rstructures. That dumbass needs to realize the technologies that the oilfield generates. Especially since he has killed the space program. What other industry provides so much technology as a result to continually improve their work processs.Wake up people!!

[sfef84]

Operation "idle iron" is the project. The upper texas fisherman are really getting the shaft. The removal, i mean "abandonment" of these rigs will have an unseen economic impact. The upper texas angler has a major hurdle to get offshore. The shelf is 70+ miles out. The $$$ needed to have a chance at billfish and bigger pelagics is astronomic compared to say my hometown, San Diego. In SD, you see guys trolling in a bayliner i/o ski boats retrofitted with outriggers, 5 miles offshore in 2k feet of water. Here in Galveston, the only way to get offshore is a) have a friend with a sportfisher b) pay to go on a long range boat or c) spend a ATLEAST a good 60k+ plus fuel to even hit the first rigs on the shelf, forget the floaters unless you are brave, cary fuel on board and have xm sat weather.

You say the R &D is years away from getting rigs in +100ft. The problem is, the 100ft rigs are the reason people buy boats that are not strictly bay boats. Think about all of the people that buy "offshore" tackle (rods, reels, lures, line tackle belts etc etc) just becausd they dont want to wait for a corky to sink 100ft.

The bottom from the jetties to the shelf is basically a 70 mile sand slope. Because of the rigs, the weekend angler will buy more boat fot those few times the gnat mosquito fleet can make it out. Without the prospect of even catching a fish offshore, the guy that may buy the 26 center console will opt for the smaller, less expensive, lower powered boat to cruise the bay complex.

[Robalo]

Decommissioning not only requires removal which takes a lift barge, cost is in millions, but you have to perform a "site Clearance" using side scan sonar and drag lines. Years ago, little site clearance was required, so some of the best and generally unknown to most typical offshore weekend fishermen are the locations on the platforms and wells pulled out in the 60's and 70's. When I worked offshore in mid 70s, we tossed everything overboard, cables, old washers and dryers, production vessels that rotted and back then that stuff didn't have to be removed when platform was pulled-some old wells still have the casing stub sticking up-the only way ya know that is a reported "hang" by a shrimper. Also, the old regs on rigs to reef required a minumum clearnce of at least 60 feet as I recall, so most decommissioned rigs to reefs were placed fairly deep and limited access by the Mosquito Fleet anyway.

Obama was again responsible for the "get the sheeit outta there" new rule-he imposed it and again, shows a hate of oil biz as well as for fisherman, but then again he's a POS yankeee bastage so what'd ya expect?

[Swells]

Sounds like several of you are now pretty much experts on the issue, good comments. I've seen some cold iron from the rigs coming into the ship breaking yard in Brownsville, not much though. It looks like the bigger ops are down in Louisiana just because they have more production rigs and work boats. It is true that a bunch of the steel is probably being scrapped to Monterrey, Mexico. Much of it is sent by train such as Kansas City Southern/Ferrocamion SA (the Mexico rail company).

There are several options here, including total removal and putting the clean steel on artificial reefs such as the Texas Rigs-To-Reef program. This is a problem because so much of the piping and equipment is fouled with oil residue and contaminants. This is known as "black pipe" and is not suitable for artificial reefs unless the inspectors give it the OK. Many have found it easier and faster to remove the production platform - the entire top part - onto a barge using a ginormous crane. The issue is what to do with the rig jacket that held up the platform itself.

Some say it should ALL be left standing as long as cathode protection and navigation issues are addressed. Others will say it's OK to chop the rig down to about 80 feet below the water, so no problems with ships hitting the rig. I'm all for that too. However, what most companies are doing is to use explosives to blow the jacket and conductor clean off the sea floor, about 15 feet below the mud line. Then shrimp boats with special nets come and clean the seafloor smooth. It's a shame but rig owners have to do what the money allows, and what the stupid guv'mint says.