A ‘Phase 1’ study has been successfully conducted to examine the potential application of accelerated corrosion to subsea steel, to provide an additional option for disposing or cutting of steel structures during or after decommissioning.

The study has concluded that, in principle, accelerated corrosion may provide some significant benefits in reducing costs and environmental impacts, compared to existing practices.

The wider environmental issues of the proposed approach need to be examined, alongside activity to demonstrate that the technical performance observed so far in workshop studies will be realised on much larger structures. The likely financial costs of introducing the technique need also to be compared to the costs of existing or other emerging techniques.

Accordingly, a ‘Phase 2’ programme of work is proceeding, involving key stakeholders and specialist engineering providers, to address these issues, which should support subsequent execution of trials at sea.