CODA Connect launched to maintain news and updates

Following the launch of the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) in March 2021, NERA committed to issuing regular news and updates on CODA developments.

NERA (National Energy Resources Australia) launched CODA to establish a collaborative environment between government, oil and gas operators, engineering and other supply chain companies, technology innovators and research organisations. CODA aims to realise a potential economic value for Australia, drive innovation and efficiencies, and create long-term local jobs from decommissioning, recycling or repurposing, and decarbonising late-life offshore oil and gas assets.

CODA is the next step on a collaborative journey which started for NERA in 2019 with the launch of the National Decommissioning Research Initiative (NDRI). Since the launch of CODA, NERA has been working to finalise a broader strategy and establish the structure, governance and implementation plan.

What is CODA?

CODA has been established to coordinate and transform Australia’s approach to life extension, reuse and decommissioning offshore oil and gas infrastructure and to maximise the value for Australia. CODA is intended to enable a more transparent, proactive and collaborative approach that will enable operators, supply chain companies, innovators and governments to pursue and accelerate opportunities to achieve:

• a 35% reduction in decommissioning costs in Australia;
• optimal recycling and reuse of offshore infrastructure for emerging low-emissions technologies to help meet industry’s net zero targets;
• maximised opportunities for the local workforce, service and technology companies;
• the building of a domestic decommissioning industry that can then service needs across the Asia–Pacific region.
   

While NERA has framed CODA’s role to engage with all stakeholders to maximise the economic opportunity for Australia, the federal government and oil and gas industry are concurrently working through the policy and regulatory frameworks to provide certainty to the industry and support decommissioning decisions. CODA will continue to support this work, including working with governments, regulators and industry associations to modernise the regulatory framework.

How to get involved

Launching CODA has catalysed much of the extensive and expert local capabilities that Australia possesses to support decommissioning. This experience is critical to making CODA a success and achieving the objectives. NERA has appointed an interim independent chair to help establish processes that will be used to develop CODA’s governance and structure, including the tight integration of the supply chain. The envisaged governance structure will establish focused working groups, with operators and supply chain representatives having both dedicated and common forums. These forums will be connected to CODA’s leadership, with oversight of the delivery of CODA’s work program.

Early-stage initiatives

To accelerate the understanding of the opportunities for Australia and how to deliver a best-practice approach to decommissioning in Australia, NERA released a request for proposals (RFP) for three early-stage CODA projects:

• Understanding opportunities for local disposal and recycling
• A global review of decommissioning planning and execution learnings
• Development of a decommissioning innovation and technology roadmap
   

By the close of submissions, CODA received approximately 50 proposals from across Australia, the US and the UK. They are now under review with the aim to indicate shortlisted contenders by early May.

Next steps

The journey to a strong and capable Australian decommissioning industry for the benefit of industry and Australia will require the participation and contribution of all key stakeholders, including from across the whole supply chain. NERA is currently framing CODA’s strategy, working structure and funding model. Partnership support will be sought from industry but also, critically, the supply chain.

Interested parties can get in touch through coda@nera.org.au for any queries, comments or questions.

To stay connected and receive regular CODA updates, sign up to CODA Connect here.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/passarut