Energy and marine consultancy ABL has been commissioned by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd (Esso) to provide marine warranty survey (MWS) services to support the safe and efficient delivery of the first phase of the Gippsland Decommissioning Campaign, Australia’s largest offshore decommissioning project.
Esso is the operator of the assets in the Bass Strait that are part of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture. These comprise around 400 wells, six subsea facilities and more than 800 kilometres of subsea pipelines, and 19 platforms.
Esso is now undertaking the first Bass Strait decommissioning campaign, which is set to play a big role in Australia’s decommissioning and circular economy ambitions, given it involves the removal of around 60,000 tonnes of offshore structures and a target to recycle over 95% of materials.
Preparations for the campaign are well advanced, with the offshore lifting campaign to remove up to 12 platforms scheduled to commence in 2027 using Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit. In preparation, ABL is conducting suitability surveys to validate the proposed marine spread, and technical review and approval of decommissioning documentation. Its scope of work will include on-site attendance at all warranted offshore operations to ensure activities are executed safely and in line with approved procedures.
“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. “Our extensive track record and multi-disciplined expertise that we offer in decommissioning, alongside our deep experience in offshore Australia – makes ABL well positioned to support Esso in reducing risk and optimizing their operations.”
ABL, which is part of the Oslo-listed ABL Group and whose Australian operation is headquartered in Perth, will draw on more than four decades of decommissioning experience, offering services from feasibility and owner’s engineering through to marine consultancy and MWS.
Unity has accelerated its global growth trajectory by securing more than £6mn in new contracts and committing £1.8mn to enhance its specialist technology portfolio.
A multi-million-pound decommissioning project with a global operator in the North Sea is just one in a series of recent wins for the company. Under the agreement, Unity will deliver a full scope of P&A services, including the supply of all required equipment.
The wider wins include three significant contract extensions and two Master Service Agreements with major oilfield service firms.
Unity has also secured a 15-well Thru-Tubing services scope. The contract is a result of the company’s significant investment in its well intervention tools.
Gary Smart, CEO of Unity, said, “This has been a landmark phase of progression and uplift for Unity, and I’m exceptionally proud of the results our team have delivered. We have made significant investments in our technology portfolio to ensure we can provide operators with assurance of well integrity from production to abandonment, and we are now turning our attention firmly to international growth.
“We have spent decades building specialist knowledge in well integrity in the UK, with more than 1,000 wells maintained and 300 well abandonment wells completed. We recognised the opportunity to take that expertise global. APAC is a key market, and we are already seeing strong early traction, with plans to expand our in-country capability over the coming year.”
To support growing demand, Unity has made a series of senior appointments: Gillian King has joined as Sales Director; Catherine Bain as Financial Director; Aimée Tennant as Head of Marketing; and Francis Newbatt as Technical Sales Manager. Stuart Slater has also relocated to Perth as Region Manager – Asia Pacific, where he will spearhead Unity’s expansion, which has already heralded a handful of projects to support mature assets in Australia and Malaysia.
Australia’s offshore regulator, Nopsema, has issued new guidance that clarifies requirements for offshore decommissioning in Commonwealth waters.
The guidelines seek to clarify regulatory requirements for the removal of offshore oil and gas assets and the sea dumping of infrastructure in Commonwealth waters as part of decommissioning.
These waters are ocean zones that typically begin 3 nautical miles (approximately 5.5 kilometres) off the Australian coast and extend outward to the edge of Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at 200 nautical miles.
“Decommissioning is a normal and expected part of the lifecycle of every offshore oil and gas project,” a 15 May, 2026 Nosema statement read.
“Under Australian law, the full removal of offshore property and infrastructure is the default requirement once operations have ended. The new guidance provides clarity on how existing legislative frameworks apply to decommissioning activities, and how proposals are assessed where alternatives to full removal are put forward.”
The guidance explains how the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 intersect when considering decommissioning outcomes.It outlines the categories of property and infrastructure that cannot be left in the marine environment, as well as those that may, in limited circumstances, be assessed by regulators to determine whether they are suitable to remain in the sea.
“The guidance aims to clarify application and assessment considerations for oil and gas titleholders or operators if proposing an alternative to full removal requirements to leave property or infrastructure in the sea,” the Nopsema statement added.
Importantly, it does not guarantee that any property or infrastructure will be approved to be left in place.
“Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and must demonstrate that environmental and safety risks and impacts are acceptable under the relevant legislation. The guidance also supports early and proactive planning for decommissioning by setting out key application and assessment considerations for offshore titleholders and operators.”
The new guidelines were developed jointly by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, alongside Nopsema, following public consultation in 2024.
It does not introduce new policy or regulatory requirements, but clarifies how existing requirements are applied in practice.The full guidance document is available via the Department of Industry, Science and Resources website.
Australia’s Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) has launched its first online training module, aimed at expanding access to foundational decommissioning knowledge across the industry.
The new training module, Introduction to Well Decommissioning, is part of the organisation’s efforts to support the growth of the sector in Australia, according to CODA CEO Francis Norman.
Developed in response to strong demand for CODA’s in-person training, the self-paced module provides a flexible learning option for those unable to attend the in-person Introduction to Decommissioning course, as well as individuals and organisations looking to build capability across their teams.
“The launch of our first online module is an important step in how we support the development of the decommissioning industry,” said Norman.
“We know not everyone can attend training in person, so the CODA Academy allows us to expand how we support capability development across the industry, while continuing to deliver our in-person courses.”
The module explores the well lifecycle, with a focus on plugging and abandonment, covering key steps, regulatory frameworks and planning considerations that support safe, responsible and cost-effective outcomes.
“By combining in-person training with flexible online learning, we are creating more pathways for industry to build capability, particularly as the scale and complexity of decommissioning activity continues to grow,” said Norman.
“Building online content also allows for just-in-time and very focused learning across the industry”
Course content was developed in collaboration with Chris Wilson of Labrador, a subject matter expert who also delivers the same material as part of CODA’s in-person course.
The launch of the online module also marks the introduction of the CODA Academy, which brings together CODA’s in-person training and online learning offerings.
While in-person courses will continue to run, the Academy expands how participants can engage with decommissioning training delivered by CODA.
The learning experience was developed in partnership with Perth-based organisations Sentient Computing, which delivered the eLearning platform, and Of Note Designs, which designed and developed the web environment.
Additional online modules will be released over time, forming a broader learning pathway across the decommissioning lifecycle and complementing CODA’s existing training.
Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) posted an updated on its website on 1 May, 2026 highlighting progress on the Harriet Alpha assets following their arrival at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) in Henderson.
A site visit provided an opportunity for CODA officials to observe progress on the offshore removal and onshore dismantling phases of the project.Representatives from CODA, Santos, Liberty Industrial, McDermott and the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification were all present at the visit.
“Attendees were provided with a detailed walkthrough of the offshore removal and onshore dismantling workflow, including load-in operations and the transfer of large structural components from barge to self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) for positioning within the laydown area,” the CODA update noted.
Harriet Alpha, installed in 1985 and ceasing production in 2013, was a pioneering development in Western Australia’s offshore oil and gas industry and forms part of a broader decommissioning programme across the region.
Liberty Industrial was engaged by Santos to undertake a deconstruction and disposal study for the Harriet Alpha platform, with McDermott awarded the engineering, procurement, removal and disposal (EPRD) work in 2024.
In 2025, Liberty Industrial partnered with McDermott to deliver the safe demolition, recycling and disposal activities for the retired platform, including the helideck, topsides, jacket and associated equipment.
With major components including the jacket, topsides and the ‘Pancake 4’ section weighing approximately 1,480 tonnes, 1,440 tonnes and 185 tonnes respectively, the project has achieved multiple milestones, CODA noted, including being the largest offshore platform removed from Australian waters at the time.
CODA added that it “acknowledges and congratulates” all project teams involved in delivering the work.
“The Harriet Alpha decommissioning scope represents a significant example of the growing capability of the Australian offshore decommissioning sector,” it noted.
“It sets a new benchmark for scale and execution, and reflects the progression toward a growing number of large-scale decommissioning programmes across the industry.”
ASCO, a leading logistics, materials and operations management specialist, has won four significant contracts across Australia worth $33.2mn AUD, including one relating to its NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) solutions and expertise.
The contract is to support Birdon in connection with a major decommissioning project off the North-West coast of Western Australia, involving the deployment of Radiation Safety Officers (both onshore and offshore) and specialist NORM detection and monitoring equipment, from May through November 2026.
Managing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) is high-risk and tightly regulated. This residue, which builds up in pipework, tanks and separators over years of oil and gas production, carries radiological risks and requires expert handling, treatment and disposal. Now that Australia is entering a phase of sustained decommissioning, it is set to generate thousands of tonnes of NORM waste, but possesses limited capabilities in this area.
ASCO, which has built and operated one of the world’s most advanced NORM facilities in the North Sea, is now transferring its knowledge directly into Australia, offering solutions for the safe receipt, decontamination, storage, and disposal of NORM-contaminated equipment and materials, all to the highest safety and environmental standards, through its recently-established NORM capability in Dampier.
The other contracts won by the company are a multi-year logistics services contract supporting chemical recovery, reclamation and recycling activities across a range of critical industrial sectors; integrated marine agency services; and camp and camp management services.
Mike Pettigrew, group chief executive officer at ASCO, said, “These contract wins highlight ASCO’s growing presence across Australia and our ability to deliver integrated solutions from planning through to execution.”
Warren McHardie, Australia Managing Director for ASCO, added, "Securing these contracts strengthens our role in delivering critical energy and industrial projects across Australia. Our integrated model spanning offshore decommissioning to onshore operations brings together expertise, systems, and innovation to create lasting value for our clients".
CODA has published a new report analysing the regulatory frameworks governing both offshore and onshore oil and gas decommissioning in Australia
Titled Australia’s Oil and Gas Decommissioning Regulatory Landscape, the report explores the country’s decommissioning framework by assessing international obligations, Commonwealth legislation, and state and territory regulations across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. It highlights a system characterised by multiple layers of legislation, some of which overlap, alongside evolving regulatory expectations.
With decommissioning activity on the rise, the report points to increasing strain on regulatory structures that were originally developed to support exploration and production phases. Feedback from industry stakeholders indicates that navigating this complex and multi-layered system can be challenging.
The study is based on detailed regulatory mapping and targeted consultations with stakeholders including government bodies, regulators, titleholders, and supply chain participants. These insights have informed the identification of key themes and practical opportunities to improve coordination, streamline approval processes, and enhance clarity within the regulatory environment.
The findings emphasise the need for more aligned and efficient regulatory pathways to support safe, timely, and effective decommissioning at scale. Suggested improvements include stronger collaboration between agencies, clearer guidance materials, and enhanced support for industry in understanding regulatory requirements.
CODA CEO Francis Norman said the report provides a foundation for ongoing regulatory evolution as decommissioning activity continues to grow.
“Decommissioning at scale is still relatively new in Australia, and all stakeholders are continuing to build capability as the industry evolves. This report brings together industry experience and regulatory insight to highlight where the current system is working well, and where there are opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, and efficiency.”
The report was developed with support from Kent PLC, which led the regulatory mapping component, alongside contributions from a wide range of industry and regulatory stakeholders who participated in the consultation process.
Read more about the report here
The Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) has released the latest update to its Decommissioning Forward Outlook, with a focus on improving data quality, consistency and usability across the platform.
The Decommissioning Forward Outlook is a dynamic, interactive online tool developed by CODA to enhance visibility of forecast decommissioning activity, support planning, and promote collaboration within the Australian offshore oil and gas and decommissioning industry. The database has been compiled from publicly available information, including plans and proposals submitted for approval to offshore regulators. Users can explore asset characteristics across fixed and floating facilities, subsea infrastructure, pipelines, and wells, alongside detailed insights into upcoming decommissioning workload and project timelines.
The update represents a continued refinement of the underlying dataset, strengthening how offshore activities are identified, classified, and presented. Enhancements to the Outlook’s AI capability have been undertaken with the support of rahd·AI, facilitating more accurate identification and recognition of offshore activity and improving the overall reliability of the data.
A broader review of the dataset has also been undertaken, addressing duplication, aligning lifecycle stages across projects, and refining activity definitions to better reflect how offshore projects are described in regulatory submissions. This provides a clearer and more consistent view of development, operations, cessation of production, and decommissioning phases.
Additionally the Outlook platform has been rebuilt, enabling faster updates and delivering greater granularity across activities and timelines.
Jake Stride, rahd·AI CEO and co-founder, said, “A big part of this update was tackling inconsistency in how decommissioning activities are defined and structured across different sources. CODA’s insight into the industry has been key in helping us shape a dataset that better reflects how decommissioning is planned and executed.”
For more information visit the website here.
ACCIONA has expanded its marine fleet with the addition of Australia’s largest registered jack-up barge, supporting the delivery of critical water infrastructure projects in Western Australia.
The vessel, named Beverley, measures 59.6 metres by 32 metres and is comparable in size to one and a half Olympic swimming pools or slightly more than four basketball courts. It operates on 78-metre legs that lift the platform above the ocean surface, creating a stable and elevated work environment. Designed for strong sea-state performance, the barge features a deck load capacity of 8 tonnes per square metre, helping to minimise the impact of swell, tides and currents. It is equipped with a 400-tonne crane, a helideck and accommodation for up to 50 workers, along with onboard kitchen, dining facilities, office spaces and a medical room to support continuous offshore operations.
The acquisition and commissioning of Beverley mark a significant strategic investment, enhancing ACCIONA’s capacity to execute complex marine infrastructure projects. The addition strengthens the company’s end-to-end capabilities, enabling more efficient and effective project delivery while ensuring access to advanced assets tailored to demanding offshore environments.
ACCIONA CEO for Australia and New Zealand Bede Noonan said Beverley will play a crucial role in the delivery of local projects and future marine works across the region and also carries personal significance for the Noonan family.
“Beverley is a game-changer for marine construction in Australia. Securing the largest registered jack-up barge in Australia supports our ability to deliver some of the most technically challenging, offshore infrastructure projects, at a time when sustainable water infrastructure solutions are more crucial than ever,” Mr Noonan said.
“Currently Beverley is central to the complex construction of the offshore intake structure for desalination projects and will help shape sustainable infrastructure projects for years to come.
“In keeping with maritime tradition, Andre [ACCIONA Chief Operating officer] and I have named the vessel after our mother, Beverley. It’s a tribute that reflects both our family’s connection to the industry and the long-standing custom of naming ships after women. It’s a proud moment for us and our family business.”
The introduction of Beverley highlights ACCIONA’s continued focus on innovation, capability development and the delivery of sustainable infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand.
In its Annual Report for 2025, Australia's Santos outlines its structured approach to decommissioning, with a focus on best practice in environmental management, safety and community engagement, and plans that address its decommissioning obligations, including regulatory and sustainability requirements.
In 2025, the company embedded the Decommissioning Project Process and Technical standards throughout its regional business units, for safe and efficient project delivery.
Attention is focused on decommissioning right from the outset, and continues throughout the project lifecycle, with decommissioning strategy and cost estimates defined as part of project investment decision. The decommissioning strategy, plan and cost estimates are updated regularly throughout the asset production phase and incorporated into operation and maintenance plans and budgets. The decommissioning plan addresses regulatory requirements, joint venture agreements, timing constraints, cost estimates, opportunities and risks.
Ten years prior to the cessation of production, opportunities are explored for asset repurposing, divestment or field life extension. With a focus on the repurposing of assets towards CCUS and other decarbonisation opportunities as part of the company’s commitment to sustainability and responsible asset management, Santos seeks to identify alternative uses for wells, infrastructure pipeline and facilities which have reached the end of their operational life, and actively assesses reservoirs and wells for their suitability for long-term CO2 storage. (For example it has repurposed reservoirs to support CO2 storage for the Moomba CCS project). It also looks at repurposing pipelines and processing facilities for new energy projects, such as transporting low carbon fuels.
Five years prior to production cessation, the company initiates the decommissioning process and develops a decommissioning plan.
After the cessation of production, decommissioning projects are executed following due processes and in accordance with regulatory requirements, with a focus on minimising environmental impact, restoring ecosystems or adapting them for reuse, and addressing residual environmental risks through post-decommissioning monitoring and mitigation. Platform, pipelines, subsea infrastructure and other facilities are decommissioned according to the approved environmental plan (EP).
Santos stresses its commitment to engaging local communities and stakeholders in decommissioning planning and activities, keeping them informed and involved, to enable transparency and social licence to operate, as well as to facilitate the management and mitigation of potential impacts.
The company also plays an active role in shaping industry-wide decommissioning practices, and influencing the future of decommissioning in Australia.
In its Annual Report, Santos also provides an update on specific decommissioning projects, including the safe decommissioning of wells in the Mutineer-Exeter-Fletcher-Finucane well decommissioning campaign, including the recycling of waste materials; the successful disconnection and recycling of the Ningaloo Vision FPSO in the Van Gogh-Coniston-Novara field; preparatory works for the removal of Harriet Alpha platform; support to non-operated joint ventures; and progress of decommissioning in the Cooper Basin.
ExxonMobil has provided a round up of its 2025 decommissioning activities off Australia’s Bass Strait, as well as plans for 2026.
Andy Hospodar, Senior Project Manager Australia Major Projects at Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, summarised the company’s current position in the ExxonMobil Decommissioning Progress Report 2025.
It includes a busy programme ahead for the coming year across key offshore assets.
“Esso is progressing the safe shutdown and decommissioning of the non-producing Bass Strait facilities in consultation with stakeholders,” said Hospodar.
“At the same time, Esso continues to safely operate offshore platforms and subsea facilities that still produce energy for the region.”
Esso Australia Resources owns and operates the following assets in Bass Strait: 421 wells; 19 platforms; six subsea facilities; and more than 800 kilometres of subsea pipeline.
These assets form part of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture between Esso and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd (Woodside Energy) and the Kipper Unit Joint Venture (Esso, Woodside Energy, and Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd).
Building on the momentum of 2024, Hospodar said that during 2025 Esso completed all well abandonments across all GD 817 listed wells, advanced facility preparation across multiple platforms and strengthened regulatory alignment through proactive Safety Case submissions and approvals.
“Decommissioning activities remain on track to meet key milestones,” he noted in the report, highlighting close engagement with official bodies such as the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).
More Safety Cases are expected to be submitted to NOPSEMA in early 2026, he added, including flushing activities and Stasis Mode transition of Fortescue, and a combined MPSV campaign and transition to Stasis Mode for Flounder, Mackerel and Kingfish A.
“Development of the combined Safety Case covering future MPSV campaigns and transition to Stasis Mode for Bream A is [also] ongoing with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2026,” noted Hospodar in the report.
The group’s forward planning timeline for decommissioning actives in the area stretches into the 2030s, with work spread across multiple fields.
ASX-listed Bhagwan Marine Limited has stepped up its position to support Australia’s offshore industries, including involvement in the decommissioning effort, with the acquisition of rival firm Riverside Marine.
The Australian marine solutions company announced the acquisition recently, unveiling the transaction terms on a debt-free cash free basis with a normal level of working capital, for an enterprise value of up to US$130mn.
“This significant acquisition represents a step-change in scale and scope for Bhagwan, strengthening the company’s position as a preferred marine solutions partner,” it stated in a release to the ASX.
Founded in Brisbane in 1926 by the Campbell family, Riverside specialises in the management and operation of approximately 30 diverse vessels, including nine owned vessels, across five established brands.
The Riverside group has long-standing clients within the industrial resources, scientific research, transport and logistics sectors.
Riverside is forecasting FY26 revenue of $63mn and EBITDA of US$26mn, the ASX statement added.
Announcing the strategic rationale behind the deal, Bhagwan Marine cited a strong alignment and highly complementary service offerings.
“The acquisition brings together two founder-led businesses with a strong strategic fit, complementary services and a commitment to operational excellence,” a Bhagwan Marine media statement added.
The acquisition also further diversifies Bhagwan Marine’s offer across services, including third-party vessel operations, harbour tugs, sand dredging and commercial ferries, and across commodities, including iron ore, metallurgical coal and industrial sand.
It also boosts geographic spread with an established presence in North Queensland, and additional operations in Mackay and the Pilbara.
Bhagwan Marine added that the deal increases its recurring revenue base from around 40% to around 50%, supported by long-term contracts and high barriers to entry.
The company recently christened its newest vessel, 'Bhagwan Micah' at its Brisbane operational base, which could play a key role in the nation’s decommissioning drive, highlighting that it is purpose-built for the energy transition and critical infrastructure sectors.
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