The Louisiana artificial reef program

The Louisiana artificial reef program (LARP) is the largest rigs-to-reef program in the world, and is unique in its almost exclusive use of oil and gas structures for reef construction. In 1986, Louisiana became the first state to create an artificial reef program under the guidance of National Fishing Enhancement Act and authorization of the Louisiana Fishing Enhancement Act. Currently, LARP has created over 83 artificial reef sites using over 120 decommissioned platforms. Operators that donate a platform as an artificial reef can often lower the cost of decommissioning below the cost to bring the platform to shore for disposal. Many factors are involved in the decision to convert a rig into a reef, and subsequently, the cost savings associated with reefing. The purpose of this paper is to describe the regulatory background of LARP, to discuss the nature of the cost savings associated with reef donation, and to derive quantitative relations that predict the donation amount based on characteristics of the structure. The frequency of rig donations as a function of water depth and planning area are provided, and regression models of the donation are developed based on the structure size, water depth, removal method, and proximity of the platform to the permitted reef site. Priorities for future research are also identified.