Sustainable Marine Structures

Multi-Attribute Considerations for the Conversion of Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms into Offshore Wind Turbines

Huyen Le

PetroVietnam University

Ariel Humphrey

Tech Law Premium Solutions, 54 Avenue De Brancolar, Nice 06100, France.

Ove Tobias Gudmestad

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Haugesund, 5020 Bergen, Norway

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v8i2.2811

Received: 5 October 2025; Published: 16 April 2026

Abstract

Many offshore oil and gas platforms worldwide will need to be decommissioned in the foreseeable future due to reserve depletion, entailing significant costs for petroleum operators. Reusing offshore oil and gas platforms, particularly the jacket support structures, for offshore wind turbines can be an alternative to complete platform removal. While this option can reduce decommissioning costs, there are technical, economic, environmental and legal issues to be considered. This paper aims to scrutinize such issues and develop a decision-making framework for the conversion of offshore oil platforms into offshore wind turbines. This is achieved through the review of relevant technical guidance, laws and literature, and a case study, studying two offshore oil platforms, X and Y, in Vietnam’s continental shelf. The main technical aspects requiring attention include corrosion protection for the structures, the site conditions and loads acting on the structures, and the fatigue design. From an economic perspective, the conversion could eliminate the costs of jacket removal and reduce by half the costs of platform preparation, mobilization of derrick barges, and project management. Following this, repurposing platform Y could save about one-seventh of the total decommissioning cost. From the environmental viewpoint, the steel structures of offshore oil jackets could enhance biodiversity. The conversion is acceptable under the current legal international and national frameworks of the UK, Australia and Vietnam for offshore decommissioning; therefore, converting platforms X and Y into offshore wind turbines is legally feasible, subject to demonstrating benefits and satisfying safety requirements under Vietnam’s laws.

Keywords: Offshore Oil and Gas, Offshore Wind Turbine, Decommissioning, Repurpose, Retrofit, Rig-to-Reef

References