Chevron Australia is set to return Thevenard Island to the WA Government following the completion of its decommissioning works.
The Chevron-operated Thevenard Island Joint Venture oil and gas facility located around 22 kilometres from Onslow produced about 156 million barrels of oil from 1989 until production ceased in 2014.
Chris Jones, Chevron Australia’s Thevenard Island Retirement Project Manager, said the project highlighted Chevron’s commitment to responsible late life asset management.
“The Thevenard Island Retirement Project is an example of Chevron’s commitment to progressing decommissioning and rehabilitation activities in a systematic and timely manner to deliver positive outcomes for the environment and local community.”
The decommissioning process involved the plugging of 11 onshore production wells, three water disposal wells, one exploration well and the safe dismantling and removal of three 150,000-barrel oil storage tanks in addition to production tanks, separator vessels, flowlines, associated process infrastructure and ancillary accommodation facilities and utilities including the controlled toppling of the 38-metre communications tower.
The process included working with local partners NTC Contracting, Workpower, and Onslow Indigenous Sea Rangers to plant more than 120,000 native seeds, with the monitoring of rehabilitation of to be carried out over the next few years.
Barry Crossey, Liberty Industrial’s General Manager, said Thevenard Island set a new benchmark for transforming end-of-life sites into rehabilitated areas, that can be carried through to future projects in the region and further afield.
“As we celebrate this achievement, we also reflect on the lessons learned throughout the process and are committed to using these insights to further refine and improve our operations, increase efficiencies, and set new safety and environmental standards within the industry.”
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