New “wave” of demand for decommissioning offshore platforms will require multidisciplinary teams to develop and execute these complex projects.
In this article, published in Revista Crane Brasil no. 92, I mention which factors should be considered when calculating the weight for lifting jackets from offshore platforms to be decommissioned.
Among the main factors are:
🔸 Encrustations and aggregations: living or dead organisms, various natural or artificial waste accumulated over the years, nets, lines and other fishing equipment.
🔸 Grouts, concrete, cements, welding and plates used to fix the stakes to the jacket structure and conductors.
🔸 Excerpts of the cut stakes, which are fixed to the structure. Generally, the piles are cut 3 meters below the seabed, with the upper section lifted along with the jacket.
🔸 Structural changes and conductor additions.
🔸 Water entrapment in the structure.
The influence of these factors may exceed 25% or more of the original lifted weight, and must be subject to on-site inspection and careful assessment of structural and lifting engineering.
