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a tether and winch arrangement. Wheels are joint venture) announced today that it has Mahalo Acquisition
then extended to centralise the tool within commenced a technical tender process for
the caisson, and probe arms extend to enable decommissioning of a number of its facilities Agreement with APLNG now
ultrasound inspection. A series of high- in Bass Strait.
definition cameras stream video back to the The company is requesting technical unconditional
technicians, with the data used by the asset submissions from a number of experienced
team to define the forward plan. offshore heavy lift contractors for this initial Comet Ridge is pleased to advise the
Woodside Executive Vice President tender phase, who will each outline how they previously announced acquisition of Australia
Technical Services Daniel Kalms said: propose to undertake the platform removal Pacific LNG’s (APLNG) 30% interest in the
“The CCAIT system removes the costs of activities required. Mahalo gas project (refer to ASX release dated
mobilising tools from international locations, “Given the complexity of decommissioning August 3, 2021) is now unconditional.
including the cost of delay in fractured supply offshore facilities, we expect each vendor Completion of the remaining AUD11mn
chains. These can represent up to 50% of the will propose a unique approach to platform of the total AUD12mn upfront consideration
total cost of an inspection campaign. removal in Bass Strait, based on their will occur by 28 June 2022.
“It was incredible to see the team, including capabilities and experience,” said ExxonMobil Upon completion of the acquisition,
Woodside graduate robotics engineers, Australia Chair, Dylan Pugh. Comet Ridge will increase its existing 40%
write software to dramatically improve the “We will then consider all the options interest in Mahalo to 70%.
performance and usability of the tool. The presented, ensuring they meet our own, Comet Ridge will fund the consideration
project team was made up of people from community and regulator expectations, before (and associated costs) via a AUD13.15mn
local companies who came together and moving onto the final commercial tender loan from Santos, the remaining Mahalo
designed, procured, fabricated, tested, and process next year.” joint venture participant, which holds a 30%
validated a robotic solution during the height Over the last few years, Esso Australia interest.
of a pandemic in under a year,” he said. has completed around $600 million of early Following completion of the acquisition,
Chris Heron, a coatings subject matter decommissioning works in Bass Strait, Santos has a six-month option to acquire an
expert from Woodside’s major maintenance including successfully removing the Seahorse additional 12.86% interest in Mahalo from
partner Monadelphous, said: “Building and Tarwhine facilities, completing plug and Comet Ridge. If Santos exercises this option
a bespoke Ultra High-Pressure cleaning abandonment activities on our Blackback and (for proportional acquisition value), Comet
solution that can quickly remove marine Whiting wells, and significantly progressing Ridge’s interest in Mahalo will drop to 57.14%
growth to allow inspection without damaging well decommissioning activities on Kingfish B and the loan repayable to Santos will decrease
the protective coatings was challenging and and Mackerel. to AUD8.0mn. Santos will move up to a
rewarding. We drew from our local supplier “As the operator of some of Australia’s 42.86% interest in Mahalo upon exercise of
expertise and relationships to test the latest most mature oil and gas fields, Esso Australia the option.
technology onshore and successfully lead the is committed to safely and responsibly Comet Ridge Managing Director, Tor
offshore deployment.” decommissioning our Bass Strait offshore McCaul, said “It’s pleasing to have finally met
WOODSIDE, June 14, 2022 facilities,” said Pugh. all conditions precedent, to have significantly
“As we continue to progress these increased our equity in the project and to
Esso Australia commences important early decommissioning works, now be looking to the future with Santos to
this technical tender is an important step in
take Mahalo to FID and move into producing
technical tender for Bass preparing for the eventual decommissioning reliable, competitive energy for Australia’s east
of a number of our facilities that are to cease
coast gas market.”
Strait decommissioning production in the near future.” COMET RIDGE, June 14, 2022
EXXONMOBIL AUSTRALIA, June 17, 2022
Esso Australia (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil
Australia and operator of the Gippsland Basin

Week 24 17•June•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P13