Overview

Ventia is decommissioning 888 oil wells on Barrow Island, shaping one of Australia’s largest and most complex decommissioning programs.

Client

Chevron

Project duration

5 Years | Commenced: 2025

Description

One of the world's largest oil well removal projects has commenced on Barrow Island, where 888 wells will be permanently decommissioned. The Barrow Island Joint Venture (known as WA oil) is undertaking a significant petroleum decommissioning effort, involving the permanent dismantling and sealing of 888 wells located about 70 kilometers offshore from Western Australia's Barrow Island. 

Historical context and Ventia's role

The Barrow Island oil field has been operating since the 1960s and has yielded 336 million barrels of oil in its operating life. For over 12 years, Ventia has delivered specialist oil well servicing operations on Barrow Island, achieving lower cycle times, reaching stretch targets and earning numerous awards for the continued success. 

Proactive decommissioning strategy

As the field and assets approached the end of their operational life, the Barrow Island Joint Venture adopted a proactive strategy. Collaborating with the state government, regulators, and experts, they meticulously planned the decommissioning of this site within a class A nature reserve, ensuring adherence to the highest safety and environmental standards. Ventia was chosen for their expertise in well servicing and abandonment, providing tailored approaches to address the unique requirements of the nine different well categories.

Project outcomes

• Delivered two fully customised well‑abandonment rigs within the first 12 months, to meet the customer’s specific environmental requirements. Rigs 17 and 18 were completely rebuilt to increase hook load capacity from 160 klbs to 280 klbs, enabling high‑performance capability within a compact footprint. This allowed the rigs to fit within the existing site boundaries, eliminating the need for environmental disturbance.
• All equipment was engineered to meet strict environmental and quarantine requirements needed for operations on Barrow Island, a Class A nature reserve.