Varanus Island Hub Operations
| Activity type | Recovery of petroleum using a subsea installation |
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| Activity subtypes |
Operation of a petroleum pipeline Drilling |
| Lifecycle Classification | Operation & Production |
| Submitted by | Santos WA Southwest Pty Limited |
| Submission date | 23 July, 2024 |
| Subtype | Revision |
| Decision date | |
| RMS ID | 7911 |
| Status | Under assessment (with titleholder) |
| Link to previously accepted EP | 6896 - Varanus Island Hub Operations |
| Contact |
| Location map (click to enlarge) | |
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Santos WA Energy Ltd (Santos) is the operator of the John Brookes, Spartan and Greater East Spar (GES) gas fields in offshore Commonwealth waters on the Northwest Shelf of Western Australia. Production fluids from these fields are transported by subsea pipelines to the Varanus Island (VI) oil and gas hub (VI Hub) located in State waters.
The Varanus Island (VI) Hub in Commonwealth Waters consists of the John Brookes, Spartan and Greater East Spar (GES) gas fields in offshore Commonwealth waters on the North West Shelf of Western Australia. Production fluids from these fields are transported by subsea pipelines to the VI oil and gas hub (VI Hub) located in State waters.
The operation of the VI Hub in Commonwealth waters has been managed under the Varanus Island Hub Operations Environment Plan for Commonwealth Waters (John Brookes, Greater East Spar and Associated Facilities) (EA-66-RI-10003) accepted by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) on 11 September 2014.
This revision is made in accordance with Regulation 39(1) of the OPGGS (E) Regulations (2023) and incorporates the commissioning, start up and operations associated with Halyard-2 well which replaces the Halyard-1 well to allow gas supply to continue at Varanus Island.
Commissiong and start-up involves the pressurisation of the GES system, including East Spar Pipeline, subsea valve operation, priming activities on subsea infrastructure and treated seawater displacement from the Halyard-2 tie in spool on Varanus Island. Commissioning of the Halyard 2 well to the Varanus Island Hub will take place in Q1 2025, followed by operation of the well through the hub. There are no new or increased environmental risks associated with the commissioning, start-up and operation of the Halyard-2 well.
The environmental impacts and risks associated with the development drilling and installation activities associated with the Halyard-2 well are addressed in the accepted Halyard-2 Drilling and Completion Environment Plan.