August 4, 2025
After operating for over 50 years, many of the Bass Strait oil and gas fields operated by ExxonMobil Australia’s subsidiary Esso are now reaching the end of their productive life. Due to this, Esso is planning for the decommission process.
In Bass Strait, ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, owns and operates assets that consist of 421 wells, 19 platforms, six subsea facilities and more than 800 kilometres of subsea pipeline. These assets form part of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture between Esso and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd (Woodside Energy) and the Kipper Unit Joint Venture (Esso, Woodside Energy, and Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd). Of these assets, 13 of the platforms, four subsea facilities, 26 pipelines and around half of all wells, no longer produce oil and gas.
In consultation with stakeholders, Esso is progressing the safe shutdown and decommissioning of the non-producing Bass Strait facilities. Work is expected to commence in 2027.
To consult with and understand community concerns, Esso are hosting a range of community information sessions during August 2025.
Community information sessions
If you’d like to know more about decommissioning of platforms and pipelines in Bass Strait, the Esso Consultation Team will be hosting community information sessions at the following locations:
| Location | Date | Address |
| Lakes Entrance | Monday 11 August 2025 5.00pm – 7.00pm | On the Wharf Café, Bullock Island, Lakes Entrance |
| Yarram | Tuesday 12 August 2025 5.00pm – 7.00pm | The Yarram Country Club, 322-340 Commercial Road, Yarram |
| Sale | Wednesday 13 August 2025 5.00pm – 7.00pm | The Criterion Hotel, 90 Macalister Street, Sale |
| Yanakie | Monday 18 August 2025 5.00pm – 7.00pm | Yanakie Hall, Millar Road, Yanakie |
| Foster | Tuesday 19 August 2025 5.00pm – 7.00pm | Foster War Memorial Arts Centre, 79 Main Street, Foster |
| Leongatha | Wednesday 20 August 2025 5.00pm – 7.00pm | Leongatha RSL, Cnr Smith Street & Michael Place, Leongatha |
All the above sessions will run from 5.00pm – 7.00pm with a presentation about Esso’s operations with a focus on decommissioning projects. Esso encourage you to come along and ask questions or to raise any concerns you may have.
Please register your attendance by emailing: [email protected]
If these dates and times don’t suit, contact Esso at [email protected] or by phone on 03 9261 0000.
The Esso Team will also be available to discuss all current activities, including:
- Bass Strait Environment Plans
- Barracouta Plug and Abandonment Environment Plan
- Campaign #1A Environment Plan
More information
- Refer to the NOPSEMA brochure Consultation on offshore petroleum environment plans brochure.pdf (nopsema.gov.au) to understand more about consultation on offshore petroleum environment plans assessed under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2023.
- Gippsland Basin Decommissioning – Campaign #1 Execution Environment Plan
