We commissioned Marsden Jacob Associates (MJA) to look at ways to safely manage mercury-contaminated steel during offshore decommissioning. MJA carried out interviews with experts from government, industry and academia. They also looked at existing standards and guidelines.
Mercury is naturally present in some oil and gas reservoirs. It can deposit on offshore infrastructure such as pipelines over time. Understanding how to manage this safely when decommissioning was a common theme during our consultation for Australia’s Offshore Decommissioning Roadmap.
This report:
- assesses domestic and international standards and thresholds for mercury to protect human and ecological health
- estimates the level of mercury in Australian oil and gas pipelines
- summarises handling and transport regulations in Australian states and territories
- summarises best practices for mercury decontamination.
MJA found 3 main areas that need more research
- accurate ways to detect and measure mercury in oil and gas infrastructure
- techniques to remove mercury from steel substrates
- understanding how well control measures for mercury exposure protect steelmaking workers
We’re working with the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) to map Australian regulations on decommissioning, including hazardous waste regulations.