Presently, there are over 3,750 platforms installed in the OCS region of the Gulf of Mexico. Ever since platforms have been installed, there has only been 1 year in which removals outnumbered installations. As many of these platforms reach the end of their useful life (average of 20 years), the liabilities and cost associated with their removal become a major concern for oil companies. During the years between 1986 and 1999, approximately 1,414 structures were removed. Of those structures, approximately 66% were removed by explosive methods. Explosives are widely used because they are safe, reliable, and cost effective. This paper will present the methodology of explosive usage for platform removals. Included in the paper will be a review of field data, cost comparisons with other methods, safety, and governmental regulations relative to platform removals involving explosives. The limitations regarding explosive usage will also be discussed. Development of new products and processes involving explosive technology will be presented.

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