Decommissioning the Northern Endeavour

The Australian Government is decommissioning the Northern Endeavour facility and remediating the Laminaria-Corallina oil fields.

About the Northern Endeavour

The Northern Endeavour is a 274 m long floating production, storage and offtake (FPSO) facility. It's permanently moored between the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields, about 550 km northwest of Darwin in the Timor Sea.

There are 9 oil wells on the sea floor associated with these oil fields.

An illustration of the Northern Endeavour and oilfields

This diagram shows the Northern Endeavour moored between the Corallina and Laminaria oil fields.

Why we’re decommissioning the Northern Endeavour

Following liquidation of the former private owner, the Commonwealth now owns the Northern Endeavour FPSO. As a result, the Australian Government plans to decommission, disconnect and dispose of the FPSO and remediate the Laminaria-Corallina oilfields.

Decommissioning is a normal and planned activity carried out in the offshore petroleum industry. It involves safely removing and recycling oil and gas production infrastructure. It also includes rehabilitating and removing risks to the surrounding marine environment.

How we’re decommissioning the Northern Endeavour

We aim to complete the decommissioning work efficiently and safely, ensuring value for money and protecting the surrounding environment. We’re managing the program across 3 phases.

Northern Endeavour work program

We aim to complete decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour efficiently and safely, ensuring value for money and protecting the surrounding environment.

Offshore petroleum cost recovery levy

The Offshore Petroleum Laminaria and Corallina Decommissioning Cost Recovery Levy (OP Levy) is a temporary levy on offshore petroleum production.

Our decommissioning progress

Phase 1 is progressing well. The FPSO is being prepared for disconnection from the subsea infrastructure. Works include maintaining and operating the facility in non-production (lighthouse) mode and maintaining the class of the vessel.

Some important milestones

Future milestones

  • 2025 and beyond

    • Award and announce the contract to recycle the FPSO.
    • Disconnect the FPSO from the flowlines and moorings that anchor it to the seabed to allow towing.
    • Tow the FPSO to a facility for recycling.
    • Approach the market to deliver phase 2 and 3 of the program.
    • Get environmental and regulatory approval to remove the subsea infrastructure.
    • Remove subsea infrastructure and transport it to shore for reuse or recycling. This includes flowlines, chains and mooring infrastructure.
    • Plug and abandon 9 oil wells and remove well infrastructure in the Corallina and Laminaria oil fields to protect the environment.  
    • Remove subsea infrastructure from the oil fields.
    • Remediate the oil fields.

Latest news

Mar 2025

Northern Endeavour well suspension and flushing campaign complete

A major milestone has been reached in relation to decommissioning the Northern Endeavour floating production storage and offtake (FPSO) vessel.
Mar 2025

Northern Endeavour floating offtake hose disposal

Disposal of the floating offtake hose marks another step towards successfully decommissioning the Northern Endeavour floating production storage and offtake (FPSO) vessel.
Mar 2025

Northern Endeavour vessel to be dry towed to a recycling facility

We have engaged COSCO Shipping Heavy Transport (COSCO) to dry tow the Northern Endeavour floating production storage and offtake (FPSO) vessel to a recycling location.

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