ABSTRACT

The Kipper gas field in Australia’s offshore Gippsland Basin was initially developed from two subsea wells producing back to the West Tuna host platform commencing in 2017. The Kipper field is unique in the Gippsland Basin as it is a Golden Beach Formation pressure depletion-drive reservoir, requiring compression to support recovery of the produceable reserves. As such, the Kipper Compression Project, which was successfully installed in 2024, represents another signifi-cant infrastructure investment in the Bass Strait where 100% of gas from the basin is sold into Australia’s east coast domestic market. This project represented a multi-year effort with a high degree of brownfield complexity to install the compression components on a producing platform. The project leveraged a modularised design inclusive of the gas compressor and turbine package, fuel gas and seal gas conditioning equipment, as well as condensate pumping, power and controls infrastructure. The tie-in and integration scope on West Tuna involved significant interfacing and risk management between the project, logistics and operations teams. Successful project delivery necessitated a multi-disciplined and collaborative team effort from early concept selection and facility design, and a highly coordinated effort through module fabrication, transportation, shorebase load-out, offshore installation, hook-up and commissioning. West Tuna platform and Kipper Compression facilities are within Gippsland Basin Joint Venture (GBJV) operated by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd (50%) and partners with Woodside Energy (50%).