Mumbai: Shell, Reliance Industries (RIL), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) – the Panna-Mukta and Tapti (PMT) joint venture (JV) partners – on Monday said they have successfully completed the country’s first offshore facilities decommissioning project with the safe removal of mid and south Tapti field facilities.
According to the official press release, the milestone project involved removal of five wellhead platforms, associated infield pipelines, load-in at the onshore dismantling yard and the safe plugging and abandonment of 38 wells — all executed in line with the approved decommissioning plan. The production from the Tapti fields ceased in March 2016.
The PMT JV, operator of the Tapti fields under a production sharing contract with the Government of India, comprises ONGC with a 40 per cent participating interest, and RIL and BG Exploration & Production India Ltd (BGEPIL-Shell) with 30 per cent each.
The JV has awarded contracts to Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for offshore execution and Chowgule Shipyard for onshore dismantling. Offshore operations have now been completed safely, and dismantling is underway at CLSPL’s facilities in Ratnagiri, further strengthening India’s domestic capabilities in offshore and onshore energy infrastructure.
“The safe and successful completion of the Tapti offshore project is a landmark moment for India’s offshore energy sector. This project sets a new benchmark for responsible decommissioning, made possible by global expertise, strong collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability,” said Nipun Pradhan, Managing Director, BGEPIL and GM Shell Upstream India.
Developed collaboratively with key stakeholders—including the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, and Oil Industry Safety Directorate, the project sets a benchmark for future offshore energy transitions, rooted in global best practices and adapted for Indian conditions, added the release.
“From the outset, the JV partners worked tirelessly to strengthen local supply chains and enhance the technical and safety capabilities of Indian contractors especially for offshore dismantling activities,” said Sanjay Barman Roy, President, E&P, RIL.
Pankaj Kumar, director – production, ONGC, said, “This first-of-its-kind large-scale offshore decommissioning underscores ONGC’s commitment to responsible energy practices”.
He said that the project’s complexity, especially its proximity to ONGC’s live assets demanded strategic planning, precise execution, and utmost focus on safety.
