Current controls for abandonment and disposal of offshore installations at sea

The provisions of international law increasingly reflect an acceptance of the possible partial removal of offshore structures under certain circumstances and are supplemented by important international guidelines in this respect. A new convention will provide an integrated regulatory framework for abandonment of offshore installations, and disposal of associated residues in the North East Atlantic. The enactment of these provisions in UK law will provide a similar integrated framework. In the meantime it is suggested that offshore operators follow a dual approach which considers both the abandonment requirements of the Petroleum Act and any requirements that may arise from Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act, as amended, which deals with disposal at sea.