The impact of oil and gas infrastructure in marine ecosystems: a global vision for informing decommissioning decisions

The offshore hydrocarbon basins of the world and their neighbouring countries are faced with an immense decommissioning challenge. Uncertainties in regulation and costs, coupled with limited environmental data, stifle consideration and support for alternative options to full removal. In separate regions, scientists and industry are forming partnerships and commencing research that advances understanding of regional and ecosystem-scale processes, including the habitat value of oil and gas infrastructure. With similar decommissioning-related marine research priorities being identified globally, a more coordinated approach to such research is needed: a global decommissioning marine research network and taskforce. This taskforce would not only be highly cost-effective, but it would also enable consistent approaches to science and management of the marine environment and secure protection and conservation of global marine resources. This network and taskforce would bring together leading scientists and experts in the oil and gas industry to develop an international research program that will significantly advance our understanding of the consequences to ecosystems as a result of decommissioning, as well as identify the differences and commonalities in environment–infrastructure interactions across different geographical regions. The outcomes would support sustainable installation and decommissioning practices worldwide and ensure that policies adhere to international agreements on environmental protection.