The Barrow Island Joint Venture oil facility (known as WA Oil) commenced production in 1967 and has since yielded over 335 million barrels of oil. Now at its end of field life, Chevron is retiring the onshore assets including the wells, flowlines, processing facilities, storage facilities and associated infrastructure, and the offshore assets including the Barrow Tanker Loading Line (or BTLL), marine terminal and associated subsea supports and moorings, and more than 800 wells.

• Barrow Island holds Class A Nature Reserve status, meaning all personnel and equipment must adhere to strict quarantine protocols. Movement and activities outside previously disturbed areas are restricted. In addition to already rigorous work procedures, this designation imposes further constraints on the types of work permitted, how it must be carried out, and the level of Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) measures required.
• Works must be carefully staged. Following cessation of production, the asset is safely plugged and cleaned prior to the demolition of the terminal tanks.
• The island’s remote location provides logistical challenges related to the transport of plant and personnel, emergency medical response, water supply, and the protection of native flora and fauna. These factors demand extensive forward planning and long lead times.
• Extreme weather: the area is subject to hot and humid weather during summer and significant rain events during the wet season that could render certain areas of the site impractical for works.