Pipeline Decommissioning Process in Oil & Gas

Oil & gas pipelines are designed to serve as a conduit for the recovery & channeling of natural
hydrocarbon products. However, like with any other process equipment, these structures will
undergo retirement at the end of their useful lifespan.
Decommissioning pipelines ensures all components of a network are safely dismantled/neutralized
to prevent a lasting environmental hazard.

What Is Pipeline Decommissioning and Abandonment?

Pipeline decommissioning refers to a series of properly planned & executed actions required to
safely remove a pipeline or network of pipelines from activity. Commonly employed methods of
decommissioning include pipeline nitrogen purging, pipeline pigging, filling, & plugging.
Pipeline abandonment is another term used to describe a decommissioning procedure. For a
pipeline to be accurately designated as abandoned, activities eliminating all the combustible fluids it
conducted during its service life must be carried out. Additionally, all connections to active
production channels must be severed & all associated facilities sealed.
Pipeline decommissioning & abandonment are generally conducted for two main reasons:
1. A pipeline has reached the end of its useful lifespan & further use is no longer economically
viable.
2. The oil & gas reserves it serves has been exhausted & as such, there is no longer a product for
conveyance.
Offshore vs. Onshore
Pipeline decommissioning procedures vary depending on the location in which they are carried out.
These activities can be broadly divided into offshore & onshore groups based on the location of the
pipelines.
Offshore pipeline groups include subsea pipelines & oil rig lines. The procedure for decommissioning
oil rigs or subsea pipelines are similar & include pipeline retrieval, retirement in-situ & preservation
on-site for future reactivation. In many cases, offshore operators favor the preservation &
retirement in-situ approaches as pipeline retrieval is a very costly engagement in terms of capital &
manpower expenditures.
Onshore pipeline decommissioning activities follows a similar pattern to offshore decommissioning
but is often a less complex & more inexpensive process.
What Is Pipeline Abandonment in Place?
An abandonment in place strategy refers to the practice of leaving an “inactive” pipeline in the area
where it was installed after it has served its purpose. Pipelines left in-situ will undergo standard
measures to eliminate fire & explosion hazards including flushing & pipeline cleaning before they are
disconnected from the oil or gas supply & sealed at both ends.
Although the term abandonment is used loosely to refer to pipelines no longer actively trasnporting
gas, the Pipeline & Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) strictly defines the criteria for
abandonment to include purging of all combustibles & irreversible discontinuation of pipeline use.
Is Pipeline Removal Required?
The physical removal of a decommissioned pipeline is not necessary for all structures at the end of
their service life. Pipeline recovery is typically reserved for flow lines maintained above the ground
targeted for refurbishment & reuse.
Drawbacks to complete pipeline evacuation include:
 Significantly higher costs in terms of capital/manpower expenditure
 Increased risk of environmental/human safety hazards during removal
 Disruption of surrounding ecosystems with possible contamination from residual pipeline
contents leaked during excavation
Who Is Responsible for The Pipeline Decommissioning Procedure?
The responsibility for the installation, operation, pipeline safety & eventual decommissioning of gas
pipelines resides solely with the pipeline owners/operators. Dependent on unique legislation,
various government agencies mandate the compliance of oil & gas industry players with standards
that prioritize the health & safety of its workers & citizens residing in host communities.
In the U.S, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates all aspects of active pipeline
operation & discontinuation of use.

Pipeline Abandonment Regs – FERC & 49 CFR 192.727

The FERC laid down conditions for pipeline abandonment or deactivation in section 49 CFR 192.727.
Criteria for abandonment include compulsory disconnection, filling, & sealing of pipelines at end of
their useful lifetime.
Additionally, the relevant section on pipeline deactivation also mentions exceptions to standard
pipeline abandonment procedures & outlines the method of data submission on abandoned
facilities.

Onshore Pipeline Decommissioning Process

These processes are conducted for pipeline networks installed on land or below the ground surface.
Onshore pipeline retirement approaches include:
 Pipeline flushing with inert gas (typically nitrogen)
 Pipeline cleaning with pig devices
 Disconnection of retiring pipelines from product supply sources
 In-situ abandonment or pipeline recovery & reuse in alternative processes
For onshore decommissioning where pipeline recovery is favored, operators can channel the
materials into scrap metal for reworking into other useful components or refurbish/recycle them for
use at another location.
Disconnection
Pipeline decommissioning requires all pipeline operators to disconnect all flow lines intended for
retirement from gas reservoirs & other active storage & transport components. This stage of
decommissioning is critical to ensuring a safe transition of lines from active to inactive status.
Pipeline Purging
Purging gas lines can be done with an inert gas preferably nitrogen to force out any residual oil/gas
left within the pipeline lumens. Inert gas purging limits the risk of fire/explosion from a
decommissioned line by eliminating volatile materials & inerting the flow lines.