1 Final disposal of disused pipelines and cables

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy today presented a White Paper to the Storting (Parliament) on the final disposal of disused pipelines and cables. The principles are based on the results from a comprehensive assessment programme. The results from this programme show that leaving disused pipelines and cables in place will not lead to any significant effect on the marine environment if they are properly cleaned for hazardous substances. Leaving in place leads to the lowest total emissions, while disposal on land will require much space and can cause emissions to air and cause local pollution of fresh water recipients. Pipelines and cables left on the sea bottom may affect fishery with bottom gear. Bringing disused pipelines and cables to shore for recycling is generally a far more expensive alternative than leaving in place with trenching.

As a general rule the Ministry proposes to give permission to leave pipelines and cables in place, assuming they do not cause problems for other users of the sea or impose a heightened risk when fishing with bottom gear compared with the costs of trenching, burial or removal. This implies that pipelines and cables may be abandoned in place when there is no important fishery with bottom gear in the affected area, or the pipelines and cables are or will be properly trenched or buried. It is a requirement that the pipelines and cables are properly cleaned for hazardous substances.

In the white paper the Ministry presents assessments of the best disposal alternatives for disused pipelines and cables in the Ekofisk and Frigg areas. The assessments are based on the above mentioned principles. The Ministry’s recommendation is that a gas pipeline from Odin to Frigg, and the western half of the water injection pipeline from Frøy to Frigg, should be properly trenched in the sea bottom. A free span on the oil pipeline from Valhall to Ekofisk should be removed. The Ministry’s recommendation is that the rest of the disused pipelines and cables, mainly stable covered by bottom sediments or buried, should be left in place. The Ministry will conclude on the final disposal of the disused pipelines and cables when the Parliament has discussed the white paper.