Wobbegong Environmental Survey Environment Plan

To help meet east coast domestic energy demand, subsea gas reserves need to be developed to replace existing wells as they run out. Imported alternatives cost significantly more and result in much higher emissions. The Wobbegong Environmental Survey Environment Plan provides for various survey activities to support the drilling of a single exploration well named Wobbegong-1 (the drilling of the Wobbegong-1 well will be covered under a separate environment plan). 

The environmental survey scope is designed to provide an understanding of the current nature of the seabed, and any potential hazards present, to ensure safe drilling. The surveys also provides data that will support our environmental impact and risk assessment, including cultural heritage assessment.

Update log

• May 2026: Page created

Location

Offshore from the Orbost gas plant, Gippsland Basin, approximately 45 km south of Cape Conran, Victoria in Commonwealth waters. 

Offshore Gunaikurnai country.

Within permit area VIC/P80, an area of approximately 9 km x 9 km bounded by the following coordinates.

Survey operations area (GDA94):

Activity details include the following:

Geophysical Surveys 

• Magnetometer
• Single beam echo sounder
• Multi beam echo sounder
• Side scan sonar
• Sub bottom profiler
• Ultra short baseline positioning equipment

Environmental Survey

• Water and sediment sampling
• Video footage

Geotechnical survey

• Cone penetration testing
• Core sampling at potential drill rig spud can (jack-up leg) locations

  • up to 3 holes to 30 m depth using small submerged drilling rig mounted on seafloor and up to 3 contingency holes to 100 m depth

     

Support activities

• Vessels used may include offshore work vessels and uncrewed surface vessels (USV)
• Helicopters
• Remotely operated vehicle (ROV)
• Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) 

Distance from shore

Approximately 40-50 km

Permit area

Vic/P80

Water depth

Approximately 120 m mid survey area

Supply base

To be determined, but most likely Barry Beach or Geelong

Summary of Impacts, Risks and Activities

Information sheet link regarding impacts, risks and control measures.

Timeline

A survey campaign may take up to 20-30 days during the 2027-2031 period. The activity will comprise of a single survey campaign, with one additional contingency campaign. 

Identified impacts and risks

Interaction with other marine users

• Other marine users will be requested to maintain a safe distance of 500m from operating vessels

Impacts

• Changes to the functions, interests and activities of other marine users

Controls

• Temporary Safety Exclusion Zones will be communicated via Notice to Mariners
• Fisheries damages protocol
• Ongoing consultation and notification
• Marine assurance process

Seabed disturbance

Our proposed activities offshore include:

• 'Flying' our ROV (remotely operated vehicle) close to seabed
• Sediment samples of the seabed
• Seabed coring
• Contingency 'wet parking' of equipment on seabed

Impact

• Change in benthic habitat

Risks

• Marine fauna injury or mortality
• Cultural heritage changes.

Controls

To mitigate or reduce these impacts and risks we will implement the following controls:

• Planned maintenance system
• Offshore work procedures
• Marine assurance process
• Underwater cultural heritage disturbance risk management process

Underwater sound

Underwater sound will be generated from the following activities:

• Survey vessel operation: Continuous sound through propeller and thrusters when moving and holding position. Indicative survey vessel is shown below.
• Remotely operated Vehicle (ROV) operations
• Sound emissions from geophysical (acoustic) tools
• Seabed coring and sampling

Impact

• Change in ambient sound

Risks

• Behavioural change in marine fauna (marine mammals, marine turtles, fish)
• Auditory (hearing) impairment (marine fauna)

Controls

• Victoria Whale Disturbance Risk Management Procedure to ensure our activities are not inconsistent with relevant EPBC Act species recovery plans
• Marine Assurance Process
• Offshore Operational Procedures

Greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are generated by the following activities:

• Vessel operations:  Vessels generate direct emissions by their use of diesel or gas to generate power for operation. 
• Helicopter operations

Impacts

• Increase in greenhouse gas emissions
• Change in climate systems
• Change in ecosystems
• Change in Socio-economic factors

Controls

• Marine assurance process
• Amplitude energy emissions reduction protocol

Light emissions

Our proposed activities offshore that may result in light emissions include:

• Vessel operations

Impact

• Change in ambient light

Risks

• Change in fauna behaviour

Controls

To mitigate or reduce the impacts and risks of our activities we will:

• Conduct a pre-campaign risk review for light
• Implement Marine Assurance Process (e.g. comply with Marine Order 30)
• Implement Light Management Measures (e.g. Vessel non-essential light positioning)

Other atmospheric emissions

Our proposed activities offshore that may result in Atmospheric Emissions include:

• Vessel operations
• Helicopter operations

Impact

• Change in air quality

Controls

To mitigate or reduce the impacts and risks of our activities we will:

• Implement a Marine Assurance Process for vessels

Planned discharges

Our proposed activities offshore that may result in planned discharges include:

• Discharges during vessel operations include:
  • Cooling water
  • Treated sewage
  • Brine
  • Deck drainage and bilge

Impact

• Change in water quality and change in sediment quality.

Risks

• Injury / mortality to marine fauna.

Controls

To mitigate or reduce the impacts and risks of our activities we will:

• Implement a Marine Assurance Process
• Implement an Offshore Chemical Assessment Procedure
• Ensure the vessels meet emissions and discharge standards  prior to commencing an offshore activity
• Undertake a campaign risk review

Invasive marine species

Activities

• Ballast water adjustments by vessels to maintain stability.
• Biofouling by vessels and submerged equipment through IMS presence on submerged surfaces

Risks

• IMS transferred into field, establishes and spreads.
• IMS is transferred between vessels, establishes and spreads to other areas.
• IMS is transferred out of the field and establishes outside the region and spreads.

Controls

• IMS Risk Management Protocol
• Australian Biofouling Management Requirements

Unplanned interactions with marine fauna

Our proposed activities offshore that may result in unplanned interactions with marine fauna include:

• Vessel operations

Risks

• Injury / mortality to marine fauna.

Controls

To mitigate or reduce the impacts and risks of our activities we will:

• Implement Offshore Operational Procedures (e.g. distances and management practices for interacting with cetaceans)
• Implement Offshore Victoria Whale Disturbance Risk Management Procedure to ensure our activities are not inconsistent with relevant EPBC species recovery plans

Accidental or uncontrolled hydrocarbon release

Our proposed activities offshore that may result in accidental hydrocarbon release include:

• Vessel operations

Impact

• Change in water quality

Risks

• Change in habitat
• Change in fauna behaviour
• Injury / Mortality to Fauna
• Changes to the Functions, Interests, or Activities of Other Users

Controls

To mitigate or reduce the impacts and risks of our activities we will:

• Implement a Marine Assurance Process (e.g. compliance with Marine Orders)
• Implement Marine Exclusion and Caution Zones
• Undertake ongoing engagement
• Maintain an Operational and Scientific Monitoring Program
• Have an accepted Oil Pollution Emergency Plan for the activity
• Have regulatory Safety Management Plans in place

Loss of Materials or Waste Overboard

Our proposed activities offshore that may result in Loss of Materials or Waste Overboard include:

• Vessel operations
• ROV operations
• Geotech/Geophysical equipment operations

Risks

• Change in Habitat
• Injury / Mortality to Marine Fauna
• Change to Cultural Heritage

Controls

To mitigate or reduce the impacts and risks of our activities we will:

• Implement a Marine Assurance Process
• Implement Offshore Operational Procedures
• Ensure Vessels meet Emissions and Discharge standards

Have your say

We want to hear from relevant persons. Please use the contact form below to get in touch, and feel free to share this website link with any other relevant persons that you are aware of.

What next

We will submit our draft environment plan to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) for assessment. If you have consulted with us as a relevant person, your input will be considered in improving our EP. Your name will be included in the "sensitive information" part of our plan and not published.