Australia’s largest offshore decommissioning campaign is set to begin in the Bass Strait, with specialist marine oversight appointed to support the safe retirement of up to 12 ageing oil and gas platforms.
Engineering watchdog ABL has been appointed by operator Esso Australia Resources, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, to provide marine warranty survey services for the initial phase of the multi-billion-dollar Gippsland Decommissioning Campaign #1 Project.
The project involves dismantling and removing approximately 60,000 tonnes of offshore infrastructure that has supplied the east coast domestic gas market for more than half a century.
Project partners have set an aggressive circular economy target to recycle more than 95 per cent of all materials recovered from the ocean.
Preparations for the massive engineering undertaking are already well advanced. The heavy offshore lifting phase is scheduled to commence in 2027, utilising Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit, the world’s largest construction vessel, to lift and transport the massive topsides and steel substructures to the Barry Beach Marine Terminal for recycling.
In the lead-up to the 2027 lifts, ABL’s Australian team will conduct rigorous suitability surveys to validate the proposed fleet of marine vessels, alongside reviewing and approving all technical engineering documentation.
ABL surveyors will also provide mandatory on-site attendance during all major offshore operations to ensure procedures are executed safely.
Adam Solomons, East Coast Manager at ABL Australia, described the campaign as a landmark milestone for the nation’s energy sector.
“This is a landmark project for Australia’s offshore industry, involving highly complex marine operations, including offshore lifting, transportation and discharge of substantial tonnage of assets that are up to half a century old,” Solomons said.
The aging infrastructure footprint managed by the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture is extensive, encompassing 19 platforms, roughly 400 wells, six subsea facilities, and over 800 kilometres of subsea pipelines.
While decommissioning operations will scale up significantly, Esso has confirmed that seven producing platforms will continue to supply domestic gas into the 2030s.
