Zenith Energy Australia Pty Ltd has been selected to lead phase two of the Northern Endeavour decommissioning programme, Australia’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources confirmed in an 18th August, 2026 update.
“We have engaged Zenith to conduct planning, engineering and regulatory activities to plug and abandon the Laminaria and Corallina wells,” it noted.
Zenith is an independent well engineering and project management firm which has delivered offshore projects in the North West Shelf, Timor Sea, Perth Basin, Otway Basin and Bass Strait.
Phase two of the Northern Endeavour decommissioning focuses on six wells in the Laminaria field and two oil wells and one gas injection well at Corallina.
The Department said the programme would be conducted in two stages, to “help us complete works safely, efficiently and in compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practice.”
Stage 1 will involve working with Zenith on:
• detailed project planning
• understanding and designing the engineering needs
• gaining regulatory approvals.The outcome of stage one will then determine whether to proceed with stage two, the Department said.
Stage 2 would involve plugging and abandoning the nine wells in line with regulatory approvals, including:
• installing permanent cement barriers at different depths in the wells
• pressure testing the barriers to make sure no fluid can flow to the surface
• removing well infrastructure above the seabed.
Separately, the Department also reported that Xodus Group would provide environmental services for phases two and three of the Northern Endeavour decommissioning programme.
It builds on the company’s experience providing technical assurance and advisory support during phase one work.
The company had confirmed its role in an earlier statement released on 3rd August.
The Department stated that Xodus Group will support environmental approvals for the next phases of the programme by providing technical assurance and advisory services; assisting to gain approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; developing regulatory approval documents and plans; supporting engagement with regulators; and providing implementation advice.
Xodus has partnered with Elemental Consulting Services who supported environmental approvals during phase one of the programme, the statement added.
