Sustainable recycling of mooring ropes from decommissioned offshore platforms

Decommissioning offshore Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platforms requires extensive technical knowledge, since it generates different post-consumer materials, including mooring lines. These ropes are made from polyester high tenacity yarn, based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and their high added value means they should not be discarded as scrap. This paper aims to present a review and technical opportunities, from an economic standpoint, of recycling the mooring lines recovered from decommissioned FPSOs. Studies conducted over the last two years have researched and developed different potential applications for the fibers. These studies include collaborative project initiatives involving technical and management professionals, universities and private enterprises, with a view to achieving a more sustainable destination for these fibers. •Decommissioning offshore platforms generates post-consumer materials.•Opportunities of recycling the mooring lines from decommissioned FPSOs.•Ropes from PET fibers shall be treated to ensure environmentally adequate disposal.•Techniques for maximizing the value of PET fibers employed in rope manufacturing.•Projects to achieve a sustainable destination for PET fibers from mooring ropes.