We're managing the program across 3 phases and our role includes:
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procuring and overseeing lead contractors to do the work
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detailed planning and regulatory approvals, including environmental approvals under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 999 (EPBC Act).
Phase 1: Decommission, disconnect from subsea infrastructure, tow and recycle the FPSO
Phase 1 is now operationally complete. During this phase, we:
- temporarily suspended the oil wells
- disconnected the facility from the flowlines and moorings that anchored it to the seabed
- towed the FPSO to Singapore for additional work ahead of towing to Denmark for recycling
- towed the FPSO to Denmark to recycle the FPSO.
Our department has an environmental approval under the EPBC Act for the first phase of the program.
The approval outlines 34 conditions which set high standards for protecting the environment. Our annual compliance report outlines what we’ve been doing to meet these conditions.
Petrofac Facilities Management Limited (now CB&I) led delivery of phase 1 decommissioning activities for our department. They will continue to monitor and manage the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields until the Phase 2 lead contractor takes over as registered operator.
Phase 2: Permanently plug and abandon wells
During phase 2 we’ll:
- permanently plug and abandon the oil wells to protect the environment
- remove the well infrastructure.
Zenith Energy Australia Pty Ltd (Zenith) is the lead contractor for phase 2. Zenith will conduct planning, engineering and regulatory activities to plug and abandon the 9 oil wells in the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields.
Phase 3: Remove subsea infrastructure and remediate the Laminaria and Corallina fields
Phase 3 will be contracted and delivered as 2 parts:
- Phase 3a involves recovering, transporting and offloading subsea infrastructure from the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields to a nominated Australian port. This includes removing flowlines, chains and mooring infrastructure.
- Phase 3b covers dismantling, decontamination, disposal and recycling of the subsea infrastructure.