A proposed exploration drilling program, the Athena Supply Project, in the Otway Basin has received the green light from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).
The Athena Supply Project aims to explore within Commonwealth waters, approximately 25-40 kilometres offshore from Peterborough, at depths ranging from 65 to 74 metres.
The exploration plan includes several key components:
- Seabed Surveys: Conducting surveys without seismic activities.
- Well Construction: Drilling three wells in the Juliet, Elanora, and Nestor fields, located within the VIC/L24 and VIC/P76 licences. This will also involve a contingent sidetrack at the Elanora-1 well.
- Well Suspension: The potential suspension of the Juliet-1, Elanora-1 ST1, and Nestor-1 wells, contingent upon intersecting gas resources adequate for domestic supply.
- Plug and Abandonment: Plans for plugging and abandoning the Elanora-1 well, with additional contingent abandonments for the other wells if they do not yield sufficient gas resources.
The operational area for these activities will have a temporary 3.5-kilometre radius around each well site, along with additional seabed survey areas connecting to existing infrastructure.
A temporary exclusion zone of 500 metres will be established around the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) during operations.
These activities will occur north of major shipping routes and may overlap with some Commonwealth and State fisheries, as well as being adjacent to the Southern Ocean offshore wind zone.
The MODU and support vessels will be visible from the coastline, similar to regular shipping traffic, but all equipment will remain submerged.
Drilling operations are expected to conclude by December 31, 2029.
Each drilling campaign will run around the clock and is anticipated to last up to 60 days, excluding any environmental or operational delays.
