Middle East burying head in the sand on decommissioning

The Middle East is yet to fully plan for its decommissioning future

Decommissioning globally is set to expand rapidly as decades-old infrastructure comes to the end of its productive life. While the Middle East has largely escaped the wave of decommissioning that has hit the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico, this could soon be about to change. The Gulf is now one of the most prominent future hot spots in the industry. By 2038, more than 1,000 structures and 3,000 wells will be more than 30 years old, a report on offshore decommissioning by the Boston Consulting Group identified. The international push for countries to transition to a low-carbon economy may also hasten the need for decommissioning and the introduction of standards and legislation. The UAE, Saudi