Legacy in Transition: Esso Australia is decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure in Bass Strait

As a member of the Gippsland community for more than five decades, Esso Australia is committed to the responsible decommissioning of our Bass Strait offshore facilities.

The Bass Strait is home to 19 offshore platforms that have produced oil and gas that has played a vital role in powering Australian homes and businesses and supported Australia’s energy security since the late 1960s. Today, we supply much-needed gas to south-east Australia from only six of these facilities.

While ongoing investments will see us maintain our reliable supply of gas from Bass Strait into the 2030s, we are also decommissioning the 13 offshore facilities that are no longer producing oil and gas.

Decommissioning an offshore platform is a complex, multi-stage process. It begins with well plug and abandonment, which permanently seals the wells underneath the platform that have provided access to the oil and gas resources below the seafloor. Some of our platforms have up to 37 wells, while others have only a few. We then carry out essential maintenance including cleaning and disconnecting all pipelines from the platform.

To date, we’ve invested more than $2.5billion in early decommissioning works, including the permanent plug and abandonment of over 200 wells This work will continue through to 2027, when we will then be ready to decommission by removing the platforms and transporting them to shore for dismantling and recycling.

The Pioneering Spirit, the world’s largest construction vessel, will cut, lift and transfer the topsides and jackets from our offshore platforms, onto barges for transport to the Barry Beach Marine Terminal, where they will be offloaded for dismantling and recycling.

As always, we remain focused on engaging with our neighbours and ensuring our work aligns with community expectations and we regularly hold community consultation sessions in the local area. If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out via consultation@exxonmobil.com.