Scottish player remains on support duty for Australian offshore drilling ops until 2036

May 12, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Aberdeen-headquartered energy solutions business OEG has obtained a long-term multimillion-dollar contract extension to provide assistance during drilling activities off the coast of Australia.

With a multi-year contract extension in hand, OEG will support offshore drilling operations in Australia’s Bass Strait field until the end of field life, which is expected in 2036. Following an agreement with ExxonMobil, Woodside was set to become the operator of the Bass Strait assets.

This deal will see the company supply and manufacture 200 specialist DNV (2.7-1) certified offshore cargo carrying units (CCUs) from its Barry Beach facility in Victoria, Australia. Thanks to the latest extension, six personnel from the company will provide full-service inspection, maintenance, and repair of the units when required, as well as crane and lifting services.

As a result, the total number of OEG CCUs and serviced units supporting the operator’s offshore operations in the region will increase to approximately 700. The Bass Strait offshore field began production in the late 1960s.

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Commenting on the contract extension, Beau Robins, Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand at OEG, underlined: “This contract extension reflects a longstanding relationship built over many years.

“It also highlights the value of long-term rental agreements in supporting operational planning and equipment availability, reducing unplanned maintenance and helping operators improve efficiency while preserving capital through to end of field life.”

The Bass Strait field, which was the first major offshore development in Australia, has supplied a significant proportion of the nation’s oil and gas demand, particularly to Victoria. Several of the Bass Strait offshore facilities have ceased production following field depletion; thus, an active restoration program is underway.

OEG, which operates from six locations across Australia and New Zealand, providing integrated solutions to the energy sector, claims that the field has played a key role in supporting domestic energy security while demonstrating long-term production from a mature offshore basin.

“OEG’s CCUs are widely recognised for their innovative design and benchmark-setting performance. We look forward to continuing to support operations across Australia with reliable, certified equipment and consistent service,” added Robins.

The Bass Strait project, consisting of conventional oil and gas fields in the Gippsland Basin off the southeast coast of Victoria, entails an integrated network of offshore platforms and subsea tie-backs connected via extensive pipeline infrastructure to onshore processing facilities at Longford and Long Island Point.