Kipper gas partnership sanctions expansion project

Esso Australia and partners Woodside Energy and Mitsui have approved a near $200 million investment in the Kipper 1B gas project in the Gippsland Basin offshore southeast Australia.

Later this year, the VALARIS 107 jackup will start drilling and installation of one subsea well to expand capacity from the Kipper field, accompanied by upgrades to the West Tuna platform. First gas should be delivered ahead of the Australian winter in 2026.

The development follows the recent completion of the Kipper compression project and startup of West Barracouta project in 2021.

Esso Australia originally took FID on further development of the Kipper field in March 2022.