Two Greenpeace activists were arrested for unauthorized entry into the Scarborough gas platform, located near the western coast of Australia. This action took place on Saturday morning when a group of Greenpeace activists approached the floating production unit Scarborough (FPU) by boat and entered without permission. They hung banners from the platform's structure to express their opposition to the platform's operations, which led the platform operator, Woodside, to temporarily halt pre-production operations.
Unauthorized Entry and Its Consequences
The activists brought tents with them to stay on the platform for a longer period. Two members of the group remained on the platform from Saturday night to Sunday. On Monday, the Australian Border Force announced that operations for the "safe removal" of the two activists had concluded. According to the information provided, the Western Australia Police and the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) transferred the two men to another location without injury.
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Legal Consequences
The two men, aged 48 and 52, have been charged with "interfering with offshore oil and gas facilities or operations." If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison. The Australian Border Force stated in a release that "offshore petrochemical facilities operate in complex and potentially hazardous environments. Unauthorized entry is illegal and can pose serious risks to intruders and workers."
Gas Destination and Environmental Concerns
The Scarborough platform was constructed by McDermott and CSSC and aims to process gas from the Browse field, the largest remaining source in Australia. The extracted gas will be transported to the Pluto LNG facility in the Pilbara region. This project includes the expansion of an additional liquefaction line to increase capacity, bringing total production to approximately eight million tons per year.
Greenpeace opposes Woodside's plans to drill 57 wells, many of which are located near or beneath Scott Reef, an area that is home to various species, including blue whales and sea turtles. The group argues that the disruptions caused by oil and gas development, including seismic surveys, increased marine activity, and light pollution, will harm the marine environment.
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