Risks associated with petroleum projects need to be managed in a timely manner.
| Date: | Wednesday, 28 September 2022 |
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It is imperative that risks associated with petroleum projects are managed proactively throughout the life of the project. Property, equipment and infrastructure should be progressively decommissioned, and any impacted land and water should be progressively rehabilitated to minimise inherent risks to people and the environment to reduce overall liability.
DMIRS’ expectations with regards to progressive decommissioning and rehabilitation include:
- Consideration at the earliest stage of project development, with increased planning and implementation as the project matures.
- Property, equipment and infrastructure that is no longer in use or in a state of suspension or care and maintenance must be preserved, inspected and maintained in good condition and repair to enable decommissioning in the future.
- Property, equipment and infrastructure should not be left in a state of perpetual care and maintenance in the absence of clear trend towards future use, via appropriate permissioning documents.
- Decommissioning of property, equipment and infrastructure with no further use should occur during all stages of the project’s lifecycle and should not be deferred to the end of the project’s life.
- Early and regular engagement with regulatory agencies, industry, and other stakeholders to facilitate the review and acceptance of completion criteria and obligations in permissioning documents is expected throughout the project’s lifecycle.
