Chevron has confirmed the detection of a gas leak on Barrow Island, Western Australia, just weeks after winding down six decades of oil production at the site.
The announcement comes as the state’s environmental oversight of oil and gas decommissioning faces increased scrutiny, following Woodside’s recent disclosure of an offshore oil spill.
According to Chevron, the gas seepage stems from the Gearle Formation beneath the island, with unknown amounts of hydrocarbons, primarily methane, migrating to both groundwater and the surface.
The incident was flagged during preliminary analysis as part of Chevron’s decommissioning plans and has been reported to the relevant state authorities.
The Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) is now conducting a formal investigation and has required Chevron to update its environmental plan as a preliminary compliance measure.
Barrow Island is recognised as a Class A nature reserve, home to a unique array of wildlife including over 100 bird species, 13 mammals, and thousands of plant species, many found nowhere else.
Conservation groups have criticised Chevron’s management, with the Conservation Council of WA calling for higher environmental standards, citing the operator’s privileged access to an internationally significant wildlife refuge.
The gas leak amplifies pressure on Western Australia’s oil and gas sector, which was already under the spotlight after Woodside reported a spill of approximately 16,000 litres of hydrocarbons into the Indian Ocean from a pipeline off the Pilbara coast in May.
That incident, also under regulatory investigation, occurred while Woodside engineers were flushing legacy pipelines at the abandoned Griffin field.
Company track modelling suggested the discharged fluids moved away from sensitive coastal habitats, and Woodside stated no significant environmental impacts are anticipated at this time.
Both cases underscore ongoing challenges in managing Australia’s aging energy infrastructure and the complex environmental risks associated with the decommissioning of oil and gas assets.
With multiple investigations underway and public concern rising, the effectiveness of current oversight and the sector’s commitment to environmental stewardship are likely to remain in sharp focus.
