تحلیل علل برچیده سازی تأسیسات فراساحلی فرسوده نفت و گاز از منظر حقوق بین الملل (مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)
درجه علمی: نشریه علمی (وزارت علوم)
آرشیو
چکیده
آخرین عملیات نفتی در میادین فراساحلی نفت وگاز، برچیدن تأسیسات فرسوده است که با ریسک های فنی، مالی و زیست محیطی زیادی همراه است. با توجه به مشکلات موجود برای پیمانکارها و دولت های صاحب منبع، این مسئله مطرح است که علل عملیات برچیده سازی تأسیسات فرسوده، از سمت برخی معاهدات چیست و آیا این علل در سطح بین المللی از چنان اعتباری برخوردار هستند که بتوان آن ها را واجد ویژگی عرفی بین المللی یا اصل کلی حقوقی دانست. در این مقاله، مسئله طرح شده با روش توصیفی -تحلیلی مبتنی بر مستندات بین المللی مورد تحلیل قرار گرفته است. براساس نتایج و یافته های این پژوهش، علل عملیات برچیده سازی به ترتیب عبارت اند از: «ایمنی دریانوردی»، «حفاظت از محیط زیست دریایی» و «رعایت حقوق دیگران» که به پذیرش و اجرای عملیات فوق انجامیده است. هرچند علل مذکور درعمل هنوز نتوانسته اند ویژگی عرفی بودن را کسب کنند، باوجوداین، از شرایط «اصل کلی حقوقی» در ذیل اصل «برچیده سازی سازگار با محیط زیست دریایی» برخوردارند.Analyzing the Legal Necessities of Decommissioning of Retired Offshore Oil and Gas Installations in International Law
IntroductionThe decommissioning phase for offshore oil and gas installations begins when their productive lifespan concludes, generally around 30 years, or when the associated hydrocarbon reservoirs are no longer economically viable. At this point, these installations, which once yielded financial gains, now pose additional costs and significant environmental and technical risks. While economically it may seem prudent to avoid decommissioning, industrial activities cannot be assessed solely on economic grounds; they carry environmental, social, and legal responsibilities that necessitate careful consideration.Research Method and QuestionThis article employs a descriptive-analytical approach to explore the reasons, as derived from international and regional documents, that render decommissioning of offshore installations legally mandatory. It also examines whether these reasons meet the criteria to be considered "international customary law" or "general principles."BackgroundTo date, no specific research addresses the legal bases for decommissioning retired offshore installations within international law, though some related works reference international documents, regional regulations, and domestic laws that outline decommissioning as necessary.FindingsThe primary reasons for decommissioning retired offshore installations are: ensuring navigational safety, protecting the marine environment, and respecting the rights of others. These derive from several principles of international law, including the "principle of navigational safety," "principle of prevention," "precautionary principle," "principle of compensation for environmental damage," "principle of sustainable use of natural resources" (or sustainable development), "principle of environmental impact assessment," and "principle of energy justice."Customary Law and General PrinciplesThis research investigates whether these decommissioning requirements, grounded in international and regional documents, can hold as customary international law absent specific treaties like the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, or the 1972 London Convention on Dumping of Wastes at Sea and its 1996 Protocol. For decommissioning to qualify as customary international law, it must satisfy the two elements of "general practice" and "acceptance as law." However, while general practices exist, the recognition of decommissioning as customary international law remains uncertain (Kashani & Rezaeanmehr, 2016). As a result, this study considers "general principles" as another possible source of obligation under Article 38 of the ICJ Statute. General principles, if "widespread and representative," can bridge gaps where treaty obligations or customary laws are absent.ConclusionDecommissioning retired offshore installations incurs substantial costs, yet this should not deter compliance. International and regional agreements underscore the main objectives of decommissioning: navigational safety, marine environmental protection, and respect for others' rights, all rooted in legal principles such as navigational safety, prevention, the precautionary principle, compensation for environmental damage, sustainable development, environmental impact assessment, and energy justice. These principles collectively support a "principle of compatible decommissioning with the marine environment," which could become a binding source even in the absence of treaties or customary law.To formalize this general principle, international collaboration is essential. It is recommended that offshore-resource nations partner with global organizations—such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Bank, and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—to draft a comprehensive international treaty on offshore decommissioning. This treaty should address navigational, environmental, social, and economic concerns to establish universal standards and ensure decommissioning aligns with international legal obligations.
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