ABL supports Australia’s largest offshore decommissioning campaign

(WO) — ABL Group will provide marine warranty survey services for Esso Australia as the operator prepares to launch what is expected to become Australia’s largest offshore decommissioning campaign in the Bass Strait.

The Gippsland Decommissioning Campaign #1 Project includes the planned removal of up to 13 offshore platforms beginning in 2027 as part of a broader effort to retire aging offshore infrastructure within the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture.

According to the companies, the offshore assets targeted during the campaign are part of a broader portfolio that includes approximately 400 wells, six subsea facilities, more than 800 km of subsea pipelines and 19 offshore platforms that have supplied energy to Australia for more than five decades.

The offshore removal campaign is expected to involve approximately 60,000 tonnes of offshore structures, with project participants targeting recycling rates above 95% for recovered materials.

ABL said its scope will include suitability surveys tied to the proposed marine spread, along with technical review and approval of decommissioning documentation and offshore operational oversight during warranted activities.

The offshore lifting campaign is scheduled to utilize Pioneering Spirit, operated by Allseas.

“This is a landmark project for Australia’s offshore industry, involving highly complex marine operations, including offshore lifting, transportation and discharge of substantial tonnage of assets that are up to half a century old,” said Adam Solomons, East Coast manager at ABL Australia.

ABL said it brings more than 40 years of decommissioning experience supporting offshore oil and gas and offshore wind developments globally.

Esso is operator of the Bass Strait assets on behalf of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture.