The Basker Manta Gummy (BMG) subsea oil development is located entirely within Retention Lease VIC/RL13 in Commonwealth waters. The development lies in water depths circa 135m to 270m, approximately 50 km from the Victorian coastline, south of Cape Conran.
Historically the BMG development produced light crude oil. The crude was processed by an FPSO before being transferred to an offtake tanker. In 2010 the BMG Joint Venture Partners ceased production and commenced preparing the subsea facilities for non-production. The FPSO, offtake tanker, associated mid-water equipment and moorings have since been removed. A petroleum safety zone surrounds the remaining facilities except for the trenched sections of the Basker-6 flowline and Basker-6 umbilical (gazettal A443819).
Decommissioning of the remaining infrastructure will occur in phases:
- Phase 1 activities, involving P&A of seven wells, are provided for within the BMG Closure Project Phase 1 EP, available at: https://info.nopsema.gov.au/activities/469/show_public
- Phase 2 involves the removal of BMG subsea infrastructure including flowlines, umbilicals and remaining structures from VIC/RL13. The methodologies for removal of the lines will include either reverse reel, lift and cut or combination. Phase 2 activities are provided for within the BMG Closure Project Phase 2 EP (this submission).
Phase 2 decommissioning activities are planned to commence from 2024 with a duration of approximately 50 days. Small inspection and monitoring campaigns (circa 7-days) are also provided for in the EP. Normal offshore operations are conducted 7-days/week, 24-hours/day. Decommissioning activities will be completed by the end of 2026 in accordance with Direction 2 of General Direction 824, and all post-decommissioning activities (e.g., monitoring) are also expected to be completed by the end of 2027 (in accordance with Directions 4 and 5 of General Direction 824).