The Panna-Mukta and Tapti (PMT) joint venture partners, Shell (through BGEPIL), Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), have executed India’s first offshore facilities decommissioning project.
Offshore decommissioning is a complicated process that frequently involves changing rules, growing contractor ecosystems, and shifting market dynamics on a global scale. In India’s expanding energy transition journey, the successful Tapti decommissioning project serves as an example for efficiency, safety, and environmental responsibility and shows what can be accomplished through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
With this project, the partners have accomplished a historic feat for India’s energy sector by safely removing the mid and south Tapti field facilities.
The project, in line with the authorized decommissioning plan, involved the safe plugging and abandonment of 38 wells, load-in at the onshore dismantling yard, removal of five wellhead platforms, and related infield pipelines.
The PMT JV operates the Tapti oilfield in India under a production sharing agreement with the Indian government, with 40% participation from ONGC and 30% from RIL and BGEPIL-Shell.
According to a press release, the project exhibits a high degree of planning, coordination, and regulatory compliance while maintaining the highest safety and environmental standards.
Production from the Tapti fields halted in March 2016. The PMT JV gave significant contracts to Indian firms Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for offshore execution and Chowgule Shipyard (CLSPL) for onshore disassembly, in line with the government of India’s “Make in India” agenda.
India’s indigenous capabilities in offshore and onshore energy infrastructure have been substantially strengthened with the safe completion of offshore operations and the ongoing dismantling of CLSPL’s facilities in Ratnagiri. India’s operational and legal framework for offshore decommissioning was shaped in large part by the Tapti decommissioning project.
The project, developed in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), and Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), sets a global benchmark for offshore energy transitions, tailored to Indian conditions.
Nipun Pradhan, Managing Director, BGEPIL, and GM Shell Upstream India, said, “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.”
“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. This project has successfully delivered on the Indian government’s ambition of ‘Make and Break in India,’” said Sanjay Barman Roy, President, E&P, Reliance Industries Limited.
Pankaj Kumar, Director (Production), ONGC, said, “This first-of-its-kind large-scale offshore decommissioning underscores ONGC’s commitment to responsible energy practices. The project’s complexity, especially its proximity to ONGC’s live assets, demanded strategic planning, precise execution, and utmost focus on safety. It marks a defining moment in India’s energy landscape and sets a strong foundation for the next chapter in offshore infrastructure transformation.”
