Removing old oil and gas infrastructure is a huge and important job.
The Bass Strait off Victoria hosts a range of marine species, including endangered species, commercial fishing, and cultural value. In this area there are 22 oil and gas platforms, over 2,000 km of pipeline and 460 wells, as well as other infrastructure, that need to be safely and adequately decommissioned and removed.
The proper removal of oil and gas infrastructure is a major environmental concern in Victoria. A large proportion of the oil and gas infrastructure in Commonwealth waters off Victoria’s coast is no longer operational and companies such as Esso are proposing to leave legs, jackets and pipes in the ocean floor rather than removing them.
All oil and gas infrastructure presents serious risks to the environment whether it is operating or not. This year alone, there have been at least two gas condensate and corrosion chemical spills from Victoria’s gas rigs. Disused and partially removed oil and gas infrastructure presents an ongoing risk of ocean contamination by mercury, mercury compounds, radioactive material, persistent organic compounds, asbestos and plastics. Complete and timely removal of oil and gas infrastructure is recognised by experts as best practice.
In order to do this job properly, Australia needs to establish a domestic oil and gas decommissioning industry that provides high-quality jobs for workers and encompasses dismantling, recycling and disposal.
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