As the global energy sector accelerates its shift away from fossil fuels, thousands of offshore oil and gas platforms are nearing the end of their working lives.
However, instead of dismantling these towering structures altogether, governments, researchers, and companies are exploring ways to transform them into engines of the clean energy transition and beyond.
The International Energy Agency estimates more than 12,000 offshore platforms exist worldwide, with at least 5,500 in the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and Asia-Pacific scheduled for decommissioning within the next decade.
As dismantling is both costly and complex, reimagining these facilities has emerged as a compelling alternative.
One of the most advanced opportunities lies in converting oil and gas reservoirs into carbon storage hubs. Existing seabed pipelines and platforms make them well-suited for transporting and sequestering CO₂.
Projects such as HyNet North West in the UK are pioneering this approach, with 149km of repurposed pipelines now set to carry captured carbon from industrial clusters to depleted reservoirs offshore.
Regulators and researchers argue that the UK alone has upwards of 100 pipelines suitable for reuse, potentially saving hundreds of millions in new construction costs.
Industry experts also point to gas fields in regions like Liverpool Bay as particularly promising, thanks to their geology and proximity to shore.
Hydrogen is another candidate.
By installing electrolysers directly onto existing platforms and leveraging nearby offshore wind, redundant rigs could become green hydrogen production hubs, feeding clean energy back to shore via pipelines once used for natural gas.
Pilot projects in the Dutch North Sea, such as PosHYdon, are already demonstrating the feasibility, though experts stress that clearer policy frameworks are needed to translate technical potential into large-scale deployment.
Turning former fossil fuel infrastructure into offshore wind support systems is also attracting attention.
Jacket foundations and platforms can be adapted as turbine bases or substations, offering significant cost and environmental savings by avoiding full-scale decommissioning.
Experts suggest that pairing wind farms with hydrogen facilities could both decarbonise and stabilise national grids.
Beyond energy, some platforms are being recast as offshore aquaculture hubs, supporting fish farming operations that benefit from robust offshore infrastructure.
Companies note that rigs can host staff, feed systems, and monitoring equipment, though the economics remain challenging when facilities are far offshore.
With demand for sustainable protein expected to rise, however, industry watchers believe large-scale adoption is only a matter of time.
In the US, the Rigs-to-Reefs programme has already converted hundreds of decommissioned platforms into artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, enriching marine biodiversity and supporting diving tourism.
Scientists also see potential in using retired rigs as marine research stations, hosting long-term ocean monitoring systems for climate and ecosystem studies.
Some structures are being transformed into unique diving destinations.
Malaysia’s Seaventures Dive Resort, a converted oil rig off Mabul Island, has operated since the late 1990s and even includes accommodations for guests.
Similar concepts are appearing in California and the Gulf of Mexico, creating new eco-tourism opportunities.
Perhaps the boldest concept is converting rigs into rocket launch platforms.
With growing pressure on existing launch facilities, private players and governments are investigating offshore alternatives.
SpaceX briefly pursued such a plan before pausing, while start-ups in Germany and Italy continue to explore the idea.
Though still speculative, advocates argue that offshore launch pads could play a significant role in easing congestion in orbit launch corridors.
What once symbolised the dominance of oil and gas may yet serve as pillars of the energy transition, marine science, or even commercial space.
From clean energy hubs to artificial reefs, the reinvention of decommissioned rigs highlights how legacy fossil fuel infrastructure can be transformed into catalysts for a sustainable future.
