BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. has won Australian government approval to begin drilling in the Otway basin off the coast of western Victoria state.
The approval by Federal Minister for Resources Alan Griffiths follows a controversial program of seismic surveys in 1991 that was bitterly opposed and disrupted by the environmental group Greenpeace.
Greenpeace claimed the seismic work in permits Vic P-30 and Vic P-31 along with subsequent exploratory drilling and possible development would interfere with the calving season of southern Wright whales that frequent the area off the town of Warrnambool. Manning rubber dinghies launched from the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior II, the group confronted the Western Odyssey seismic vessel and caused lengthy delays. The action was part of a wider campaign by environmentalists against all drilling in Australian waters.
BHP responded by suing recover $80,000 (Australian) plus costs of damage to seismic equipment but dropped the suit 2 months later.
Although Griffiths strongly opposed the Greenpeace tactics, he said BHP would need to submit an environmental impact statement before any development could proceed.
BHP in partnership with Esso Australia drilled a number of wells in the offshore Otway basin in the 1960s. Other companies, including Royal Dutch/Shell Group, have tried without success in the area.
There are, however, several small commercial gas fields in the onshore portion of the basin: North Parratte, Wallaby, Iona, and Kitnook.
Copyright 1992 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
