Esso Australia (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Australia and operator of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture (a 50-50 joint venture between Esso Australia Resources [Esso] and Woodside Energy) announced that it has safely completed the Kipper Compression Project, maintaining crucial natural gas supplies for the domestic market.

This major project required the installation of compression facilities on the West Tuna platform in order to maintain production from the Kipper field, which experiences decreasing reservoir pressure as it depletes.

“The successful completion of the Kipper Compression Project enables the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture to maintain production of critical natural gas supplies from the Kipper field, an integral part of our production system,” said ExxonMobil Australia Chair, Simon Younger.

“Accessing new gas supplies or maintaining gas production is not simply a matter of flicking a switch; our project and operations teams put in more than one million hours to ensure its safe completion and on schedule.”

As the Federal Government notes, natural gas remains a crucial part of the energy grid as a vital backup to renewables, and will also be key for industries such as glass, bricks, steel, fertiliser, recycling and critical minerals that don’t have alternative energy or feedstock sources, Younger added.

“Over the past six decades, Esso and its joint venture partners have made significant investments in Bass Strait to help meet Australia’s energy security and this project is another prime example of Esso’s efforts to power Australian homes and businesses,” said Younger.

“We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the Gippsland Basin, including in projects such as the Kipper Compression Project which will help supply as much gas alone as is consumed in all of Victoria in a year.

“These assets have generated significant economic benefits, for the nation, the state, but importantly also for the local communities where we live and work.”