Decommissioning
Once a gas reservoir has been depleted, the wells and their associated gas gathering flowlines and processing system is put into ‘care and maintenance’ until the company decides that there is no further use for these assets and a program of decommissioning has been scheduled. This will include permanently and securely abandoning plugging depleted wells, removing pipelines and flowlines and gas processing infrastructure, and reinstating the decommissioned lease to the surrounding area.
Our larger decommissioning projects
Woodada Gas Field
The Woodada Gas Field is approximately 10 km east of Eneabba and was constructed in 1982. Woodada Production Facility was placed under Care and Maintenance in 2010, and in 2018 MEPAU took operatorship as part of our acquisition of AWE Limited group of companies.
MEPAU commenced decommissioning and site reinstatement of the Woodada Gas Field in 2021 with a staged approach. Full field decommissioning site reinstatement is planned for 2027/2028. MEPAU will continue to undertake rehabilitation monitoring of the reinstated areas until completion criteria has been achieved.
Dongara Gas Field
The Dongara Gas Field is approximately 16 km southeast of Dongara-Port Denison and was first operational in 1971 with gas exported through the Parmelia Gas Pipeline.
The Dongara Gas Field is currently under Care and Maintenance with the exception of some facilities at Dongara Production Facility to support the Waitsia Gas Field. The Dongara Production Facility processing infrastructure was removed during a campaign in 2021 and is ongoing. Decommissioning and partial recovery of the flowlines commenced in 2026.
The Dongara Gas Field is currently under Care and Maintenance with the exception of some facilities at Dongara Production Facility to support its Waitsia Stage 1 operations (Xyris Production Facility). The Dongara Production Facility processing infrastructure was removed during a campaign in 2021. Decommissioning of the flowlines is to commence in 2025.
