Activity details

Organisation	Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd
Project	Bass Strait Development
Activity types	Decommissioning, dismantling or removing a facility
In-force EP	8306
Submission date	17 April, 2025
Outcome	Accepted
Acceptance date	01 May, 2026
Locations	Gippsland
Start date	Pending titleholder notification
Stop date	Pending titleholder notification
Lifecycle Classification	Decommissioning

Please note: activity start and stop dates are based on notifications provided by the titleholder.

Titleholder contact

Activity Description

After delivering energy to Australia for over 50 years, many of the Bass Strait fields are now reaching the end of their productive life. Esso is planning to undertake the first decommissioning campaign for the Bass Strait facilities (Campaign #1), which are located in Commonwealth waters, between 21 and 77 kilometres off the east coast of Victoria. Campaign #1 includes the removal of the topsides of up to 13 offshore platforms, the removal of the upper jacket sections of up to 10 steel piled jacket facilities and the full removal to seabed of two monotowers. Removal of the facilities will be completed by a heavy lift vessel - the Allseas Pioneering Spirit, supported by one or more construction support vessels. The heavy lift vessel or construction support vessel will transport the removed topsides and jacket sections to a sheltered location closer to shore where it will be transferred onto a barge or a heavy transport vessel (HTV) for onward transit. Other smaller vessels, tugs and helicopters will provide support during the removal activities. The activities under this EP are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2026 and conclude during the first quarter of 2028. The Pioneering Spirit HLV is expected to undertake removal activities for approximately 5 months, commencing in the third quarter of 2027.

Location map (click to enlarge)

Accepted EP Documents

EP Document	A1329419 (331 MB)
OPEP Document	A1329421 (6.6 MB)

Related EP assessments

8306 (Click to view)