PERTH, Australia – NOPSEMA, the Australian offshore energy regulator, has published Esso Australia’s first-phase offshore Gippsland Basin Decommissioning Environment Plan (EP) for public comment.
Although there is no requirement in Australia for submitting EPs for decommissioning for public comment, in this instance Esso has initiated a voluntary process, facilitated by NOPSEMA, giving interested stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback.
Once the comment period ends on Aug. 31, Esso will revise the EP accordingly with NOPSEMA.
The activities covered in the plan relate to the proposed decommissioning "end states" for steel piled jacket platforms in the Bass Strait offshore southeast Australia that may differ from the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 requirement for complete removal of all property.
The plan does not detail how the decommissioning activities will be executed so further EPs will be needed for approval of decommissioning activities.
