The achievement of optimal closure outcomes hinges on a robust planning and execution process. Closure planning should be an integral part of an asset's lifecycle, with a formal, detailed planning process being initiated towards the end of operational cessation. Useful guidelines, case studies, and project delivery models exist to assist the closure planning process. While these provide a structured framework for addressing key elements of closure, they do not transcribe all circumstances, complexities, and decisions faced by an asset owner and impacted parties.The ability to optimise closure execution diminishes once the preferred closure scenario is committed to by the appropriate decision-makers, with a subsequent escalation of change implementation cost over time. From a myriad of interdependent and sometimes conflicting requirements, variables and uncertainties, an asset owner must find a way to achieve a balanced scorecard while meeting its obligations and stakeholder expectations. To this aim, this paper presents a potential process map for determining the preferred closure scenarios, including instructional steps, a hybrid options assessment model, and examples for each component.Prior assumptions should be verified through data gathering to fill knowledge gaps, establish context and baseline knowledge, and define the relevant closure domains and work elements. With the necessary input of subject matter experts, technical practitioners and project stakeholders, a set of integrated trade-off studies can be carried out using multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to assess the merit and impact of key decisions under each closure scenario. Compatible options between trade-off studies can be linked up to form branches of a decision tree for each closure scenario, where preferences on possible decisions are revealed by the quantitative MCA scoring as well as qualitative ranking of the trade-off studies. Given the subjective nature of these assessments, different perspectives should be adequately considered/challenged, and the results tested through sensitivity analysis. The options selection process should be transparent, rigorous, defensible and well documented to form a robust basis for decisions that will have an enduring legacy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.