A well operations management plan and multidisciplinary collaboration have been critical success factors in ensuring Exxon Mobil's Bass Strait decommissioning project is carried out safely , efficiently and in compliance with regulatory requirements,
In an article on the Exxon Mobil website, Project Manager Richard Perry talks about how Exxon Mobil is executing the largest offshore decommissioning project in its global history in Bass Strait.
ExxonMobil’s wells team is permanently and safely plugging and abandoning hundreds of wells in Bass Strait, as it retires infrastructure that has reached the end of its productive life. To date, the company has safely plugged and abandoned over 200 offshore wells, using specialised equipment to install cement plugs at depths equivalent to a 20-storey building. These plugs undergo rigorous pressure testing to ensure long-term integrity and environmental protection.
“To guide this work, our team developed a first-of-its-kind Well Operations Management Plan, ensuring all plug and abandonment activities meet strict regulatory requirements and adhere to the highest safety standards,” Parry explains. “This plan draws on ExxonMobil’s global experience managing successful decommissioning campaigns in Canada, the United States, and the North Sea, while also incorporating innovative practices that improve both efficiency and environmental outcomes.
“Our Bass Strait well plug and abandonment program is among the largest of its kind globally,” he adds, noting that it relies on close collaboration across a multidisciplinary team—including geoscientists, well integrity engineers, reservoir specialists, regulatory experts, and safety, health and environment professionals—to ensure each well is retired safely, responsibly, and in full compliance with environmental expectations.
Once all wells have been safely plugged and abandoned, each platform is placed in a safe state until it is ready to be removed and safely transported to Barry Beach Marine Terminal for dismantling.
“We remain committed to transparent engagement with our community—keeping stakeholders informed and ensuring our work aligns with local expectations,” Perry concludes.
