The Montara Venture Floating Production Storage Offtake (FPSO), unmanned wellhead platform and subsea infrastructure, are located in the Timor Sea, in the Ashmore Cartier territory within Commonwealth waters, approximately 690 km north-west of Darwin within 34 km of Vulcan Shoal. The facilities lie in water depths of approximately 80 m.

Production at the Montara field commenced in Quarter 2 2013 and the activity is expected be fully operational until approximately 2030. Currently, crude oil is produced from the Montara, Skua, Swift and Swallow fields which is transported via flowline for processing at the well head platform and FPSO. The well head platform currently has five production wells, and there are five subsea production wells located approximately 17 to 18 km from the FPSO. The Montara infrastructure is marked on nautical maps surrounded by a 500 m petroleum safety exclusion zone within which vessels are prohibited from entering.

This EP was submitted as a revision under regulation 39(2) for when a new or increased environmental impact or risk is identified. In addition, the EP has been updated to allow for the continuation of production at the Montara Facility for a further 5 years.

This EP provides for operation of the FPSO and well head platform, and associated subsea infrastructure, situated in licenses AC/L7 and AC/L8. In addition, the EP provides for inspection, maintenance and repair of infrastructure, support services, and unplanned activities including oil spill response.