Esso proposes to undertake a series of geophysical and geotechnical surveys within 11 existing licence areas in the Gippsland Basin of eastern Bass Strait over the next few years. The survey program is required to inform a number of prospective future developments and potential plug and abandonment campaigns. These include:
• Development of the West Barracouta (BTW) gas field (VIC/L1)
• Plug and abandonment activities at a number of existing wells located in VIC/L1, VIC/L2, VIC/L3, VIC/L5, VIC/PL15, VIC/PL17, VIC/L18 and VIC/RL1
• Potential drilling activities inside VIC/L2, VIC/L9 and VIC/L10
• Additional developments around the existing Kipper (KPA) facilities (VIC/L25).
The survey program commenced in 2018 at the BTW location and may continue intermittently until end 2023. Survey activities are likely to occur over a 2 to 15 day period at locations within each of the licence areas. Water depths within the licence areas vary from 36 to 89 m.
Geophysical methods proposed are based on conventional techniques and include:
• Single beam echo sounder (SBES)
• Multi beam echo sounder (MBES)
• Side scan sonar (SSS)
• Sub bottom profiler (SBP) including Ultra high resolution (UHR)
• Magnetometer.
Geotechnical sampling potentially includes:
• Rotary core sampling to 80m below the seabed
• In situ penetration testing to 80m below the seabed
• Piston coring or vibracoring between 3 to 6m below the seabed
The proposed survey program will be completed in multiple stages using different vessels.