Decommissioning

Decommissioning is the process of dismantling and removing offsite of redundant infrastructure and property previously used to support our gas activities. It is a normal activity in the lifecycle of a gas project.

Once a gas reservoir has been depleted, the wells and their associated gas gathering and processing system is put into ‘care and maintenance’ until a program of decommissioning can be scheduled. This will include permanently and securely abandoning plugging disused wells, removing pipelines and flowlines and gas processing infrastructure, and rehabilitating 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 rehabilitation of the Woodada Gas Field in 2021 with a staged approach.

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 to 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 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.