This synopsis presents portions of the results of a Department of Energy (DOE) study of the potential for repurposing legacy oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) for uses in a blue economy. The study was limited and was designed to summarize practical options for repurposing. The conclusions list those areas in which further modeling or studies are warranted, with the objective of building an integrated modeling tool to assist companies, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations in assessing benefits and risks of repurposing facilities.
Scope Limits of the Repurposing Study
The term “blue economy” is defined by the World Bank as a sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health. The study upon which the paper is based was confined to the repurposing of oil and gas facilities in the GOM, specifically platforms, wells, pipelines, and rights of way.
