Case Studies
Stakeholder consultation
ENI Charon-1 Drilling Project Stakeholder Communication
In May 2008, Eni Australia commenced drilling the Charon-1 exploration well in the Offshore Perth Basin, Western Australia. The well is located approximately 180 km northwest of Geraldton, WA and 65 km northwest off the northern island of the Abrolhos Island Group, in approximately 750 m of water. The total duration of the drilling project is estimated to be 45 to 60 days.
In addition to the physical presence of the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU), the drilling project also includes support vessel mobilization to and from the drilling rig to Geraldton approximately once every 2 days. The period of the well drilling overlaps the commercial fishing season and the waters surrounding the well location and the Abrolhos Islands are intensely fished for deep sea crab and crayfish.
In order to minimize disturbance to the fishing industry, a series of stakeholder communication sessions were conducted prior to the commencement of the project to communicate information regarding the planned drilling activity with relevant stakeholders. For the purpose of this project, stakeholders are considered individuals, companies and industry bodies that have a specific interest in the waters surrounding the planned well location.
The stakeholder communication sessions included meetings with individuals in Perth, Fremantle, Geraldton, Dongara and Kalbarri. A total of 20 individuals or groups were contacted and informed of the planned drilling activities. The contacted fisherman and industry bodies were generally very receptive and cooperative with the stakeholder communication process. The main stakeholder concerns indentified from the sessions were the transit routes of the MODU and the support vessels through working fishing grounds.
In response to stakeholder concerns, a leaflet containing designated vessel transit routes and a timetable of planned activities was developed and distributed locally to stakeholders and fishing industry bodies. Throughout the duration of the drilling project, Eni will maintain radio communication, and communication with key industry bodies.
Through the stakeholder communication process, Eni may avoid potentially costly and reputation damaging incidents with stakeholders. The stakeholder communication process has become a common petroleum industry practice when drilling in areas with the potential for disturbance to individuals or industry.