Wobbegong Exploration Drilling 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 Exploration Drilling Environment Plan provides for the drilling of a single exploration well named Wobbegong-1. If successful in discovering a commercial gas field, the well will likely be tied into existing infrastructure to allow hydrocarbons to be transported to our Orbost Gas plant (this would require another EP and additional consultation). 

As this is an exploration well that is not designed for production, it will be decommissioned, with little to nothing remaining above the seafloor. The industry terms this "plugging and abandoning" the well. Any follow-up development work would require new environment plan(s) requiring further consultation.

Update log

• June 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.

Lat: 38° 12' 56" S , 148° 42' 41" E (+-500 m subject to seabed survey data)

Activity details

We plan to: 

• Drill the Wobbegong-1 exploration well using either a semi-submersible or jack-up rig, depending on rig availability.
• Plug and abandon (decommission) the well leaving little to nothing above the seabed.
• Survey the seabed with a remotely operated vessel (ROV).

within a 4 km radius Operational Area around the well location.

Distance from shore

Approximately 45 km

Permit area

Vic/P80

Water depth

Approximately 120 m

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

Activities may span approximately 120 days including pre-drill and post drill activities such as pre-laying and retrieval of anchors, with potential time gaps between activity components. Activities are scheduled some time within the 2027 - 2031 window subject to factors such as rig availability and the securing of necessary approvals.

Actual drilling may take around 45-60 days subject to weather and operational performance.

Identified impacts and risks

Interaction with other marine users

• Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU or drill rig) and support vessel operations: Presence will be temporary with vessels most likely mobilised from Barry Beach or Geelong/Melbourne area
• Temporary exclusion zone of up to 3,500 m radius around well location and 500m around operating support vessels. The final well location may vary by up to 500m to accommodate seabed features and engineering constraints identified at the survey stage. 

Impacts

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

Controls

• Temporary 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:

• If semi-submersible rig used:
  • Putting down anchors and grounded chains to position our mobile offshore drilling unit using our support vessel - retrieved after drilling completed
• If jack-up rig used:
  • Legs penetrating seabed during drilling operations
• Drilling into the seabed
• 'Flying' our ROV (remotely operated vehicle) close to seabed
• Depositing cuttings such as rock and natural material generated during drilling of the wells
• Depositing excess cement 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:

• MODU operation: Continuous sound through general operations
  • For semi submersible:  utilisation of thrusters as and when required for moving and holding position. Indicative MODU (semi-submersible) is shown below.
• Support vessel operation: Continuous sound through propeller and thrusters when moving and holding position. Indicative support vessel is shown below.
• Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations
• Drilling operations: Equipment vibrations and the rotating drill string will produce noise at each well location.

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:

• MODU and support vessel operations: The MODU and support vessel generate direct emissions by their use of diesel or gas to generate power for operation. Indirect emissions are generated through the purchase of products such as cement, and the waste generated.
• 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 and MODU 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 and MODU 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 and MODU operations include:
  • Drill cuttings and fluids
  • Cooling water
  • Treated sewage
  • Deck drainage and bilge water
  • BOP test and control fluids

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 MODU and / or support vessels to maintain stability.
• Biofouling by MODU, ROV and / or support vessel 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 and MODU 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
• MODU (drilling) 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
• Operate in accordance with a NOPSEMA accepted Well Operations Management Plan (WOMP) and Safety Case.

Loss of Materials or Waste Overboard

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

• MODU (drilling) operations
• Vessel operations
• ROV 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 an initial review, following which it will be released for public comment. After the public comment process, we will assess any comments received and update the EP accordingly if required prior to submission for assessment by NOPSEMA. 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.