A regulação do descomissionamento de instalações marítimas de produção de petróleo e gás e sua relação com a viabilidade dos campos maduros no Brasil

Abstract

The study aimed to understand how the offshore decommissioning activities for oil and gas installations and their corresponding regulations impact the investments attractiveness in projects to extend the useful life of mature offshore fields in Brazil. The Brazilian industry has little experience in offshore decommissioning activities and regulation. At this time, when the Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Policy´s main objective is to attract investments and increase national reserves and production, it is necessary to know the regulatory uncertainties in order to avoid impacts on the economic viability of the fields mature. To this end, the general concepts and characteristics of mature fields and decommissioning in Brazil were highlighted and the opportunities created from the sale of offshore fields by Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. were also presented. The national regulatory framework was explored in the various institutions that regulate and / or supervise the topic, and their similarities and differences were compared with the international experience of the United Kingdom. The results show the necessity for an integrated government management, which includes all institutions with decision-making power, so that the regulatory rules clearly and transparently express the attributions and requirements related to the decommissioning activities of oil and gas production facilities for all stakeholders.