The Hess Corporation entities Hess Exploration Australia Pty Ltd and Hess Australia (Offshore) Pty Ltd propose to retain five deepwater exploration wells in Permit Areas WA-474-P and WA-70-R in a suspended state, and to conduct periodic well head inspection activities on the suspended wells.  The wells comprise one suspended gas condensate well within Permit Area WA-474-P and four suspended gas condensate wells within adjacent Permit Area WA-70-R, located in the Northern Carnarvon Basin in Commonwealth waters. 
The Permit Areas are located approximately 145 km (78 nm) north of the North West Cape (Exmouth area) and about 275 km (148 nm) west of Dampier.  Water depths at the well locations range from approximately 900 m to 1, 200 m.
 The wells were suspended as part of previous exploration drilling programs in the Permit Areas. All well suspension activities, including surveillance requirements, are being undertaken in accordance with a National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) accepted Well Operations Management Plan (WOMP). The surveillance involves one non-intrusive visual inspection of the well heads within the lifetime of the WOMP, accomplished via remotely operated vehicle (ROV) videography acquired during a single survey of all 5 suspended wells. 
 Inspection activities at each well head are expected to take approximately 6 hours and involve a single, locally sourced vessel to support ROV operations. The entire survey is anticipated to take approximately 72 hours and is currently scheduled to occur between Q4 2020 and Q1 2022. Actual timing will be dependent on the availability of a suitable vessel and survey contractor, and weather conditions.
 
[Western Gas (70 R) Pty Ltd previously known as Hess Exploration Australia Pty Ltd;  Western Gas (474 P) Pty Ltd previously known as Hess Australia (Offshore) Pty Ltd]