Woodside Energy is continuing the decommissioning of the Griffin oil and gas field offshore Western Australia, with a notified activity window running from 16 to 29 October 2026, according to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).
Located in production licence WA-10-L, approximately 65 km north-west of Onslow, the Griffin field lies in water depths of around 130 m. Its 12 former subsea oil production wells were permanently plugged in 2017, and associated subsea infrastructure was flushed of hydrocarbons.
Woodside’s accepted Griffin Decommissioning and Field Management Environment Plan covers the staged removal of subsea equipment, including wellheads, subsea trees, flexible production risers, flowlines, umbilicals and associated structures. The original plan identifies approximately 47 km of flexible production flowlines and 12 km of rigid production spools and flowlines within its scope.
The programme is being managed through separate environmental plans and regulatory approvals. The gas export pipeline and certain remaining field infrastructure are covered by separate approval arrangements.
Woodside reported significant progress during 2025, including completion of wellhead severance activities, following the recovery of the field’s riser turret mooring in 2024. The company also reported that more than 60 km of pipeline, flexible flowlines and umbilicals had been recovered and transported to an onshore facility near Onslow for cleaning and preparation for recycling, reuse or disposal.
NOPSEMA lists the October 2026 activity dates based on notifications submitted by Woodside. The dates relate to the notified activity and should not be taken as the start of the overall decommissioning programme.
For more information visit: https://info.nopsema.gov.au/activities/15/show_public
EnerMech has secured a five-year extension to its non-destructive testing (NDT) contract with Chevron Australia, continuing an agreement that will now run to the end of 2031.
Having first secured the work in 2017, the renewed contract will see EnerMech continue to deliver inspection and asset integrity services across Chevron Australia's operations, building on a partnership that has supported some of Western Australia's most significant energy developments.
“Strong customer relationships are earned through consistent performance, technical expertise and an uncompromising commitment to safety,” said Charles 'Chuck' Davison, Jr., EnerMech’s CEO.
“Our Australian team has built a reputation for delivering high-quality solutions in some of the industry's most demanding operating environments.”
Backed by a broad integrity management offering, EnerMech provides advanced NDT, condition monitoring, corrosion and inspection services, statutory inspections, engineering support, and specialist asset integrity solutions across its Australian operations.
In Australia, it delivers multi-disciplined services across integrity management, process, pipeline and subsea, cranes and lifting, hydraulics, valves, and electrical and instrumentation, providing customers with support throughout the asset lifecycle.
“As asset owners continue to focus on reliability, efficiency and long-term performance, EnerMech remains committed to helping our customers maximise value from their operations through specialist capability and integrated service delivery,” said Davison, Jr.
The company has supported Chevron regionally on major assets, including two major LNG developments, Gorgon and Wheatstone, delivering services spanning commissioning, maintenance, shutdowns and ongoing operational support.
“Our focus is on giving our customers confidence that their assets are being supported safely, efficiently and with the right technical expertise,” said Heath Ward, Regional Vice President - Australia at EnerMech.
“The continuity we bring through our local workforce, established systems and deep understanding of Chevron Australia’s operating environment allows us to respond quickly and deliver with discipline.
“We are pleased to continue this important relationship and remain focused on delivering the reliability and service quality our customers expect.”
Over the next two decades, thousands of subsea structures, pipelines, and platforms are scheduled to cease operations.
As these massive industrial installations reach the end of their productive lives, regulators, operators, and environmental scientists are confronted with a colossal task: determining the safest, most sustainable methods for managing redundant offshore infrastructure. The financial and environmental stakes are remarkably high, demanding a careful balance between economic feasibility and ecological preservation.
By 2040, more than 2,500 offshore oil and gas structures will be retired worldwide. Managing this transition requires an extraordinary financial investment, with decommissioning costs projected to reach up to US$13 billion per year. Australia, for example, faces a monumental task in addressing its legacy infrastructure.
This includes:
Under standard regulatory frameworks, the default requirement for operators is the complete removal of all property from the ocean. However, lifting thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete from the seabed is not always the most environmentally sound option. Alternative strategies, such as in-situ decommissioning, are increasingly being evaluated by industry and governments alike. This approach involves leaving some or all of the infrastructure in the marine environment, potentially repurposing defunct platforms into artificial reefs. Such alternatives may be permitted provided they comply with strict domestic regulations and international treaty obligations.
The primary objective of any decommissioning strategy is to minimise environmental impacts and reduce risks to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable. In-situ decommissioning can deliver substantial ecological benefits. Over decades of operation, many underwater structures have been colonised by marine life, transforming into thriving artificial reefs that support diverse marine ecosystems. Conversely, leaving industrial materials in the ocean introduces the risk of pollution, such as the potential release of heavy metals or naturally occurring contaminants, which could pose unacceptable risks.
To navigate this complex dilemma, regulators and industry leaders require robust, independent scientific data. Organisations such as the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) play a pivotal role in delivering this vital intelligence. AIMS conducts comprehensive research to understand how marine life interacts with offshore structures at both local and regional scales. Their studies provide the essential evidence needed to assess pollution risks and evaluate how different decommissioning scenarios might influence crucial ecosystem processes, such as population connectivity. Because every marine environment is unique, scientists must determine the most appropriate strategy on a rigorous, case-by-case basis.
Research institutions collaborate closely with global partners, including the National Decommissioning Research Initiative, to bridge critical knowledge gaps. To study these deep-sea habitats without impeding commercial offshore operations, researchers employ a wide range of innovative methodologies.
Key technologies and methods include:
Ultimately, the transition away from active oil and gas extraction presents a unique opportunity to rethink marine conservation and industrial responsibility. By fostering strong partnerships between scientific institutions and the offshore industry, it is possible to gather rigorous ecological data swiftly and safely. As the world grapples with the immense logistical and financial hurdles of decommissioning, science-led approaches will be absolutely crucial. Whether an offshore platform is completely removed or thoughtfully preserved as a novel habitat, ensuring the long-term health and resilience of our oceans remains the ultimate priority.
Geodata specialist Fugro has been awarded a major Australian marine asset integrity contract.
It did not name the client or disclose the value of the contact but noted in a statement that it will see the company replace critical subsea infrastructure to support the long-term reliability and performance of its client’s offshore assets.
“In addition to the replacement works, Fugro will provide subsea survey and inspection services using remote operations capabilities,” the statement noted.
“The project brings together Fugro's integrated capabilities, combining engineering expertise, project management and offshore execution to deliver safe and efficient outcomes for our client.”
According to Fugro, the latest assignment “strengthens its position as a trusted partner for subsea inspection, intervention and maintenance services in the offshore energy industry.”
Offshore operations will be executed from Fugro's multipurpose support vessel Fugro Etive, with project management, engineering and operational support services being delivered from Fugro’s regional operations teams.
The contract follows an initial phase of engineering and planning activities with detailed engineering to commence in the coming weeks.
Offshore operations are expected to commence towards the end of 2027.
“This award reflects the strength of our relationship with the client and our proven ability to safely deliver complex marine asset integrity projects in Australian waters,” said Barry Walsh, Regional Business Line Director, Marine Asset Integrity, Fugro.
Decommissioning needs to be planned well before an asset reaches the end of its operating life, with well integrity, clear accountability, collaboration and safety and environmental outcomes built into the process from the outset.
That’s the view of Sue McCarrey, CEO of NOPSEMA, Australia’s offshore regulator, writing in the latest issue of the in-house journal The Regulator.
The September issue of The Regulator highlights how Australia is moving into a new phase of offshore asset retirement, with decommissioning no longer a future consideration, but instead an immediate industry priority.
“Decommissioning is another area of growing importance as Australia’s offshore petroleum industry moves into a new phase of asset retirement,” writes McCarrey.
Navigating this key challenge — including well integrity, early planning, accountability and transparency, and greater collaboration across industry — will be essential to success.
“Successful decommissioning depends on these issues being considered well before the end of an asset’s operating life, with safety and environmental outcomes remaining central throughout.”
The journal includes an article on NOPSEMA’s attendance at the 2026 Decommissioning and Abandonment Summit, which explores some of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Health and safety is another central theme of the journal, which again is integral to a successful decommissioning process.
It also looks at the growth of the renewables industry in Australia, and the increase in lifting incidents in recent years.
Across each of these areas, the common thread is preparedness, learning and continuous improvement, according to McCarrey.
“Whether managing established risks or responding to new ones, strong outcomes depend on duty holders understanding their risks, engaging their workforce and taking action before problems arise.”
The Federal Government has stepped in to ensure the abandoned Cliff Head platform off the West Australia coast remains in a safe condition, following the entry of its owners into administration in July.
Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King authorised taxpayer funding to maintain the rig, with her office giving assurances that all costs to government would be recovered from the industry.
Triangle Energy entered administration faced with estimated decommissioning liabilities for the Cliff Head oilfield and associated infrastructure of $200mn after its partner, Pilot Energy entered administration having failed to secure funding to buy out Triangle’s stake in the joint venture.
The case has echoes of the Northern Endeavour scenario, when in 2020 the government took over responsibility for decommissioning and remediating the Northern Endeavour FPSO and its associated infrastructure, after its owner went into liquidation. Six years later, the work is still ongoing. Since then, various reforms have been implemented to ensure operators carry out their decommissioning obligations and prevent a similar event occurring again. The Federal Government also imposed a levy on the Australian petroleum industry to cover the Northern Endeavour decommissioning costs.
Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) Executive Director Matt Roberts said taxpayer funded maintenance of the Cliff Head Oil platform would have been avoided by stronger oil and gas decommissioning laws.
“The Federal Government should not be using Australian taxpayer money to maintain the fossil fuel industry’s abandoned infrastructure.
“What we need now is a clear plan and timeline to recover these funds from industry and meaningful, legislated changes to avoid this happening again in the future.”
Noting that the Federal Government is planning reforms to decommissioning legislation he added, “With $60 billion in decommissioning liabilities sitting offshore across Australia to be worked through in the decades ahead, we must get these reforms right.”
Law firm Clyde & Co, in an article on its website comments, “It appears that Triangle's collapse, and the current uncertainty surrounding responsibility for the Cliff Head decommissioning, is a consequence of matters which occurred under the pre-reform regulatory regime rather than a failure of the current regulatory regime.
“Triangle and Pilot’s acquisition of the Cliff Head oil field and its associated infrastructure occurred before the Walker Review reforms and in circumstances where the pre-reform regulatory regime did not provide for adequate regulatory oversight. It remains to be seen whether any other late-life offshore assets acquired by smaller operators under the pre-reform regime will emerge with solvency concerns as production ceases and decommissioning liabilities crystallise.
“It may be that the original developers of Cliff Head avoid decommissioning liability in this instance due to limitations on the retrospective effect of the trailing liability reforms.”
Clyde & Co added that the expanded trailing liability regime means that the regulator may also look to related persons where appropriate with respect to decommissioning, as well as the two companies concerned.
“Triangle and Pilot’s collapse may cause regulators, financiers and project proponents to scrutinise more closely whether adequate security or funding arrangements are in place to meet both operational and eventual decommissioning liabilities for late-life offshore assets,” Clyde & Co concluded.
Australia’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources has reported back on common issues and concerns regarding the decommissioning process, following an industry and stakeholder consultation process as part of its reforms overhaul.
It comes as Australia seeks to tighten financial and regulatory safeguards around offshore oil and gas decommissioning, amid concerns that companies could leave taxpayers exposed to costly clean-up liabilities.
The Department said it was running its targeted consultation on the practical workings of proposed regulatory design amid updates to offshore decommissioning and financial assurance reforms.
Common themes to emerge from stakeholders included the need for:
• Earlier and regularly updated decommissioning planning
• Robust and credible decommissioning cost estimates
• Greater public transparency of decommissioning information
• Stronger financial assurance requirements
• Clear and effective enforcement options capable of intervening where required
• Clear regulatory triggers and expectations
The consultation process focused on a range of issues including decommissioning planning; financial planning and assurance; decommissioning and financial capacity risk assessments;
compliance and enforcement tools; and title surrender.
The Department said that it received 38 submissions and published 30 responses, while issues identified have “directly shaped” the proposed model, including its emphasis on:
• Staged planning
• Greater transparency
• Effective compliance and enforcement tools
• A proportionate, risk-based regulatory approach
“We are now conducting roundtables and meetings with stakeholders to test the regulatory design for the reforms,” the Department noted.
“The focus of this consultation is on technical and implementation issues. This includes how the model would operate in practice across different project types and life cycle stages.”
It said this targeted feedback would help reduce the risks of “unintended consequences” and ensure a robust, proportionate and balanced regulatory regime.
“Our reforms seek to ensure industry decommissions offshore infrastructure in a timely, safe and environmentally responsible way. This includes remaining responsible for the risks and liabilities of offshore activities,” the Department said in a statement.
There is expected to be a further consultation on the legislative changes in 2027.
Engineers Australia, the country’s national body for engineering, is organising a site visit to an Oceaneering subsea engineering facility that will explore asset integrity management and other key industry issues.
Operating from its Jandakot facility in Western Australia, Oceaneering develops and delivers innovative technologies that support the inspection, maintenance, repair and integrity management of critical subsea infrastructure for the offshore energy industry.
“Explore the future of subsea engineering and offshore technology with Oceaneering,” an Engineers Australia statement noted.
The visit is scheduled to take place on 23 September 2026.
The statement highlighted the “exclusive industrial visit” to Oceaneering Australia, “a global leader in subsea engineering, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology, asset integrity management and offshore engineering solutions.”
Hosted by the Engineers Australia Mechanical College, the visit will offer a glimpse into the engineering challenges associated with operating and maintaining subsea assets in some of the world's most demanding environments.
The statement added that participants will develop an understanding of the complexity of subsea pipeline inspection and repair activities, including the influence of deepwater conditions, corrosion, accessibility, operational risks and stringent safety requirements.
“The visit will also provide valuable exposure to the role of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other advanced submersible technologies used for subsea inspection, intervention, and repair, highlighting how these systems enable engineers to safely perform complex offshore operations that would otherwise be impossible for human divers.”
Software company Aize has acquired Samp, a French industrial AI company, in a move to unite their respective technologies, teams and visions to create a comprehensive approach to industrial asset information.
The combination will address industrial assets across their full lifecycle, from greenfield facilities to decades-old brownfield assets.
Samp has developed Shared Reality, an AI-powered platform that transforms reality-capture data, such as laser scans, into structured asset information and connects the physical identity of the field with engineering information such as tags, drawings and P&IDs.
Samp’s technology is already being used across more than 500 industrial facilities, with a strong focus on energy and water. Aize is used by leading companies across the energy sector, including bp, ExxonMobil, SBM Offshore, Aker BP, and Aker Solutions, to bring engineering, operational and asset information together in one digital environment.
Jarle Skrebergene, CEO of Aize, said, “What convinced us about Samp was not only the technology, but the team, their commercial momentum and how closely their vision aligns with ours. Together, we can connect engineering intent, operational information and what actually exists in the field, creating a uniquely powerful foundation for industrial companies to understand and work their assets throughout their lifecycle.”
CEO and Co-Founder of Samp, Laurent Bourgouin, commented, “Samp was founded around a simple conviction: for existing industrial facilities, the field is the ultimate source of truth. Shared Reality bridges the gap between physical reality and the technical information companies rely on every day. Together with Aize, we can connect engineering, operations and field reality across the entire asset lifecycle.”
The International Well Control Forum (IWCF) has endorsed an Introduction to Well Decommissioning online module from the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA).
The Quality Assured endorsement follows an independent review under the IWCF Quality Assured framework.
The Introduction to Well Decommissioning module forms part of CODA Academy, CODA’s initiative focused on building knowledge and capability across the decommissioning industry.
The online module, launched earlier this year, was developed to provide an accessible introduction to well decommissioning for professionals who may be new to the discipline, as well as those looking to broaden their understanding of the well decommissioning lifecycle.
The IWCF review assessed the module against applicable Quality Assured standards.
The technical review also found the module suitable in complexity and presentation for its intended introductory audience, highlighting its logical structure, use of varied digital learning elements and learner-focused design.
It also recognised the quality assurance processes established by CODA, including subject matter expert verification, independent technical review, pilot testing, governance sign-off, learner feedback, annual review and version control.
CODA’s CEO Francis Norman said the endorsement reflected the collaborative effort behind the module’s development.
“A course like this relies on the knowledge and experience of the people involved in developing it,” he said.
Course content was developed in collaboration with Chris Wilson of Labrador, a subject matter expert who also delivers the material as part of CODA’s in-person Introduction to Well Decommissioning course, while Perth-based organisations Sentient and Of Note Designs supported the development of the eLearning platform and web environment respectively.
“The CODA team, Chris, Sentient and Of Note Designs each brought their own expertise to the project, and that collaboration has been a big part of getting the course to where it is today,” added Norman.
“Having that work independently reviewed and receiving IWCF Quality Assured endorsement is a great outcome for everyone involved.”
The inaugural Offshore Network D&A 2026 Awards, in partnership with CODA, will shine the spotlight on the projects, technologies and individuals helping to shape the future of decommissioning across Australia and the wider region.
With decommissioning activity continuing to develop across the region, the awards provide an opportunity to recognise the people and organisations finding new ways to improve efficiency, safety, sustainability and value throughout the lifecycle of offshore assets.
The award categories for 2026 include:
A judging panel full of industry leaders will decide who will where the crowns at this year’s ceremony, which will take place at the Crown Perth, 6100 Australia, on November 12th, 2026.
Guests will be treated to an evening of networking, entertainment, a three course meal, and the chance to raise a glass with the best in the industry.
Tickets to attend are available on the website.
Wood, the engineering and consulting firm acquired by Sidara in March 2026, has outlined its role in maintenance and shutdown support in Australia’s Gippsland Basin, a region that supplies a large chunk of the country’s south-eastern gas demand.
For more than a year, it has provided services across the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture’s (JV) offshore assets in the Bass Strait and the Longford and Long Island Point facilities.
On July 1st, 2026, Woodside assumed operatorship of the Gippsland Basin assets from Esso Australia — Wood’s contract was first announced in January 2025.
In a recent article posted to its website — but drafted prior to completion of the Woodside operatorship — the consulting firm highlighted how a “strong alliance model” with Esso Australia was ensuring “reliable, value-driven maintenance across critical late-life assets.
”Every day in the Gippsland Basin, hundreds of Wood’s people – technicians, operators, planners, engineers and support staff — play a quiet but critical role in keeping Australia’s energy supply secure, it noted.
“The success of the Gippsland contract is grounded in an alliance model that brings Wood and the Gippsland Basin JV together as one team.”
Since 2020, it has also upgraded and modified key infrastructure through a diverse portfolio of onshore and offshore minor modification and major enhancement work.
Asset integrity management
Over 330 of Wood’s people — around 230 blue-collar and 100 white-collar — have become the engine room of safe and reliable operations, supporting the broader Esso Australia team across Gippsland’s mature assets.Focused on optimising operational performance, local personnel are responsible for planning and executing maintenance programmes with continuous improvement, the Wood article noted.
“Enhancing reliability, production and uptime are core drivers that guide our teams every day — and they work hard to do that while continually reducing risk, learning from experience and supporting Esso Australia’s expectations.
“From day one in January 2025, we ensured a seamless transition into the contract, completing all planned shutdowns safely and continuing to deliver value without operational disruption.”
Smarter maintenance strategies
With decades of production and thousands of hours of ongoing maintenance behind it, Gippsland is a basin with history.
According to Wood, a challenging mindset is needed to uncover optimal maintenance strategies that deliver reliability, and at pace.
“Our teams focus on compliance, prioritisation of critical maintenance and elimination of unnecessary work to strengthen operational performance, without compromising on safety,” the article added.
“Every improvement is driven by the people closest to the job — those identifying smarter ways to work, tightening processes and making sure that what gets done is what truly matters.
"By embracing rope access techniques to replace scaffold-heavy tasks, exploring drones for quick, efficient inspection and continuously challenging the status quo, we’re focused on finding better, safer, more efficient pathways forward."
As the JV’s assets move closer to eventual decommissioning, Wood concluded that its focus is to keep supporting the Gippsland assets with optimised, late-life maintenance that enhances production.
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