Bangkok, Thailand, November 28, 2022 – The 3rd International Seminar on “Challenges and Opportunities in Offshore Decommissioning in South East Asia and Beyond” and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held on 28th of November, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (UTC +7). This hybrid event, hosted by Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia and Mahidol University (MU), Thailand at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok, Thailand, attracted 28 physical attendees and 119 online participants, uniting experts and stakeholders from around the globe.
The seminar was organized by SEELOS Project to presenting the research results as the event served as a platform for sharing research findings with industry and government representatives. To exchange of best practices in order to provide an invaluable opportunity for participants to exchange best practices in the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas structures. The engagement and discussion through question-and-answer sessions and Focus Group Discussion (FGD), the seminar encouraged participants to express their opinions and engage in constructive dialogue on emerging issues.
The session starts with opening and introduction by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noor Amila Wan Abdullah Zawawi from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia as the seminar joint chair, to set the stage for the event. As the first guest speaker from PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited, Thailand, Mr. Rittichai Sukbanjongwatthana addressed the complexities of offshore facilities decommissioning, emphasizing environmental considerations.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noor Amila Wan Abdullah Zawawi from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia, representing the SEELOS project’s finding; ways to enhance decommissioning methods and guidelines in the ASEAN region. In term of regulation and implementation, the second guest speaker, Mr. Bambang Eka Satria from the Directorate General of Oil and Gas, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Republic of Indonesia, analyzed the regulatory framework and practical implementation of decommissioning activities in the Indonesian upstream oil and gas sector.
Dr. Kang Hooi Siang from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia, and Dr. Le Thi Huyen from PetroVietnam University (PVU), Vietnam as the SEELOS project representative highlighted the challenges and opportunities related to the preparedness of decommissioning facilities and delved into the challenges and prospects of managing Mercury and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) waste in the ASEAN oil and gas industry respectively.
Finally, Mrs. Raja Azizah Raja Yeop from Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), Malaysia, present about the upstream decommissioning framework in Malaysia from a regulator’s perspective. To conclude the seminar session, Prof. Dr. Omar Yaakob, the Project Leader once again closed the event, summarizing the key takeaways.
At the evening, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) continues under Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noor Amila Wan Abdullah Zawawi from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia as the moderator.
The seminar and FGD yielded substantial benefits such that the event bolstered international relations and cooperation through the collaboration between industry partners and foreign regulators. The seminar and FGD served as a rich source for the exchange of knowledge and skills among various overseas institutions, furthering understanding and expertise within the field.
The 3rd International Seminar on Offshore Decommissioning proved to be a significant platform for the exchange of ideas, fostering international collaboration, and advancing expertise in this critical industry. It continues to contribute to the responsible decommissioning of offshore structures across the ASEAN region and beyond
By Mohd Arif Ismail
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