BP has officially opened its marine supply base at Port Adelaide, the first facility of its kind in South Australia, which it says will play an integral role in the safe and efficient day-to-day operations of BP’s planned Statoil Great Australian Bight exploration program.
Senator for South Australia Sean Edwards and SA Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Tom Koutsantonis joined BP and its partners last Friday to celebrate the key infrastructure project.
BP Managing Director, Exploration and Production, Australia, Claire Fitzpatrick said the company would develop the project with partners ASCO, “a company that brings deep, global expertise”, and Flinders Logistics, “a highly respected South Australian business”.
The marine supply base will be used to provide specialist materials to the Ocean GreatWhite offshore drilling rig, store large amounts of equipment, host a drilling fluids plant and provide a dedicated wharf area for supply vessels.
Ms Fitzpatrick said the infrastructure project marked another step forward in preparing for BP’s exploration drilling program, which is subject to regulatory approval.
“The oil and gas industry as a whole has the potential to bring significant economic and social benefits to South Australia,” she said.
