Top ten research priorities on decommissioning offshore oil and gas structures - Research questions from global experts - (NESP MaC 1.19, Deakin)

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned | | Credit The data collections described in this record are funded by the Australian Government through the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub. In addition to NESP (DAWE) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators. | This dataset consists of an Excel spreadsheet representing an expert elicitation process of determining priority research areas for the decommissioning of ocean-based oil and gas structures. Further description of this process is provided in the 'Offshore decommissioning horizon scan: Research priorities to support decision-making activities for oil and gas infrastructure' paper by Sarah Watson et. al. 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163015. A global horizon scan was undertaken, eliciting input from an interdisciplinary cohort of 35 global experts to develop the top ten priority research needs to further inform decommissioning decisions and advance our understanding of their potential impacts. The resulting highest research priorities included: (1) an assessment of impacts of contaminants and their acceptable environmental limits to reduce potential for ecological harm; (2) defining risk and acceptability thresholds in policy/governance; (3) characterising liability issues of ongoing costs and responsibility; and (4) quantification of impacts to ecosystem services. The remaining top ten priorities included: (5) quantifying ecological connectivity; (6) assessing marine life productivity; (7) determining feasibility of infrastructure re-use; (8) identification of stakeholder views and values; (9) quantification of greenhouse gas emissions; and (10) developing a transdisciplinary decommissioning decision-making process. Methods: We used a horizon-scan process with leading global experts on the decommissioning of offshore O&G infrastructure (excluded from the scope was P&A of subsea wells), from across a range of fields (science/academia; industry; and policy-making) and technical disciplines (environmental; societal, technical, economic; and policy/governance). Experts were selected based on their: publications on the topic; extent of relevant work (within academia, industry, or a relevant competent authority); or substantial involvement (e.g., chair) of an international industry association specialising in decommissioning. The aim of the expert selection process was to ensure representation across all ge