Biden Administration Awards Contract to Decommission Orphaned Pipelines in Gulf of Mexico

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has taken a significant step in addressing legacy pollution off the Texas coast.

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s environmental cleanup efforts, BSEE has awarded a contract for the decommissioning of eight orphaned pipelines in the Matagorda Island lease area, approximately 12 miles offshore.

In September, BSEE awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract to Chet Morrison Contractors, LLC, for on-site pipeline decommissioning activities. The first task order under this contract, focused on the Matagorda Island Area, was awarded on September 13.

“The funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is crucial to BSEE as we tackle orphaned infrastructure on the Outer Continental Shelf, which presents a serious hazard to safety and the environment,” said Kathryn Kovacs, Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management.

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This project is part of a larger initiative that includes the decommissioning of nine orphaned wells in the same area, awarded last year. The comprehensive effort aims to address urgent decommissioning needs, such as securing wellheads, decommissioning hazardous pipelines, and preparing sites for permanent well sealing.

While the oil and gas industry is primarily responsible for decommissioning on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), BSEE ensures that the process is carried out properly and timely to mitigate risks to safety, navigation, and the environment. The bureau’s authority in this matter is provided by 30 CFR 250, Subpart Q, Decommissioning Activities.

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The project is partially funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated $250 million for cleaning up well sites across various public lands and waters. To date, nearly $150 million of this funding has been disbursed over the past three years.

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