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Activity - Athena Supply Project

Activity details
Organisation Cooper Energy (CH) Pty. Ltd.
Project
Activity types Other survey
Drilling
In-force EP 7969
Submission date 06 September, 2024
Outcome Accepted
Acceptance date 08 May, 2025
Locations Otway
Start date Pending titleholder notification
Stop date Pending titleholder notification
Lifecycle Classification Exploration
Please note: activity start and stop dates are based on notifications provided by the titleholder.

Titleholder contact
Oliver Glade-Wright
Phone: 08 8100 4900

Activity Description
Cooper Energy (CH) Pty Ltd and Cooper Energy (MGP) Pty Ltd (Cooper Energy) are proposing to undertake an exploration drilling program within Commonwealth waters of the Otway Basin. Wells will be drilled in Cooper Energy’s existing licence areas approximately 25-40 km offshore from Peterborough in water depths ranging from 65 m to 74 m.

The exploration program consists of:
• Seabed surveys (no seismic)
• Well construction of 3 wells in Juliet, Elanora, and Nestor fields, within licences VIC/L24 and VIC/P76, including contingent sidetrack at one well (Elanora-1 ST1)
• Suspension of 3 wells (Juliet-1, Elanora-1 ST1 and Nestor-1) relevant only if the wells intersect gas resources sufficient for domestic supply
• Plug and abandonment (P&A) of one well (Elanora-1) and contingent P&A of the additional wells (Juliet-1, Elanora-1 ST1 and Nestor-1) relevant only if the wells do not intersect gas resources sufficient for domestic supply.

Planned activities will occur within an operational area defined by a temporary 3.5 km radius around each well site, and additional seabed survey areas between the well sites and existing infrastructure. The 3.5 km well buffers include the outer extent of mooring equipment from the well site, and a 500 m radius (0.8 km²) temporary exclusion zone around the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU). A 500 m radius (0.8 km²) long-term petroleum safety zone may be established around the wells if the wells are suspended in a success case.

Operational areas are north of primary shipping routes with some Commonwealth and State fishery overlap, and adjacent to the Southern Ocean offshore wind zone. During exploration activities, the MODU, supply and other support vessels may be visible from the coastline, similar to other shipping traffic. All equipment installed during the campaign will be on the seabed and will not be visible above the sea.

Activities will be conducted on a 24 hour, 7 days per week basis within several offshore campaigns to commence no earlier than 1 January 2025 and be completed no later than 31 December 2029. Each drilling campaign is expected to take up to 60 days excluding environmental and operational delays.
Location map (click to enlarge)
Location map - Activity: Athena Supply Project  (refer to description)

Accepted EP Documents

EP Document A1199668 (15.2 MB)
OPEP Document A1183877 (5.17 MB)
OSMP Document A1183883 (1.71 MB)
NOPSEMA Report A1198010 (99.3 KB)
Appendices A1199667 (59 MB)

Related EP assessments

7969 (Click to view)

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