NOPSEMA is set to commence its formal assessment of Equinor’s plans in the Great Australian Bight. Credit: Nachoman.

Norwegian energy company Equinor has submitted an environment plan (EP) for its proposed drilling activity in the Great Australian Bight to Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Authority (NOPSEMA).

The company’s proposed exploration drilling project would be in the Stromlo-1 well, located in the EPP 39 licence 372km offshore South Australia.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Equinor is the operator and 100% equity owner of offshore exploration permits EPP 39 and 40, both located in the Great Australian Bight andcovering approximately 12,000km2.

NOPSEMA will now begin its formal assessment of the EP, considering appropriate precautions and the potential environmental impacts of the exploration drilling before any further action is taken.

Equinor released the draft EP for its plans in the Great Australian Bight for public comment in February 2019, the first time a draft EP for an offshore exploration well was published before assessment by NOPSEMA.

Thousands of Australians protested Equinor’s planned operations in the Great Australian Bight in March 2019, expressing concerns including the environmental damage that a potential oil spill could cause and the risk of disruption to the natural ecosystem operations could cause.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

In 2018, the Australian Greens party launched a campaign to protect the Bight from oil and gas companies by giving it World Heritage protection.

Previous operators in the Great Australian Bight, Chevron and BP, cancelled exploration drilling plans in the region citing an inability to compete for capital in their global portfolios as contributing factors to their departure.