Celebrating three years as Australia’s peak body for decommissioning

December 10, 2024 marks a significant milestone for the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA), as we celebrate three years of independently serving as Australia’s peak body for decommissioning.

“Reaching our third anniversary is a proud moment for CODA. It reflects not only the strength of our partnerships but also the dedication and collaborative spirit of everyone involved in shaping the future of decommissioning in Australia. The work we’ve achieved together—delivering key studies, building industry resources, and fostering collaboration—has set a solid foundation for continued progress. I want to thank all our partners and the Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation Department of the WA Government for their invaluable support. Here’s to many more milestones ahead.” – Francis Norman, CEO, CODA

Over this period, CODA has grown to become a 130+ partner organisation, uniting industry stakeholders from across the entire supply chain. Together, we’ve worked to address key challenges, develop innovative solutions, and promote best practices in decommissioning.

Our commitment to advancing the industry is reflected in several studies and initiatives undertaken and completed in this period:

  • Decommissioning Forward Outlook: This dynamic, interactive tool provides comprehensive visibility into Australia’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure, supporting effective planning and fostering collaboration within the industry. View
  • Global Review of Decommissioning Planning and Execution Learnings: This study identifies key learnings from comparable jurisdictions, offering insights to inform improved planning and execution of future decommissioning projects in Australia. View
  • Development of a Decommissioning Innovation and Technology Roadmap: Highlighting innovative approaches and technologies, this roadmap draws inspiration from global practices to facilitate industry transformation in Australia’s offshore oil and gas sector. View
  • Understanding the Opportunity for Local Disposal and Recycling Pathways: This report explores opportunities for local disposal and recycling, aiming to enhance sustainability and efficiency in decommissioning processes. View
  • Western Australia Decommissioning Hub Location Study: Identifying optimal locations for decommissioning facilities, this study supports the establishment and growth of Australia’s domestic decommissioning, dismantling, recycling, and disposal industry. View
  • Skills Review for the Australian Oil & Gas Decommissioning Industry: This comprehensive review assesses current and future workforce capabilities, laying the foundation for a cohesive strategy to develop a skilled domestic workforce equipped to meet future challenges. View

These initiatives have not only advanced industry knowledge but also highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing the complexities of decommissioning.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners and collaborators for their ongoing support and shared commitment to this important work. A special acknowledgment goes to the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation of the Western Australian Government, whose support has been instrumental in CODA’s journey.

As we look to the future, CODA remains committed to fostering collaboration, driving progress, and delivering value for Australia’s decommissioning industry.

CODA welcomes new Industry Advisory Committee members

The Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Industry Advisory Committee: Danny Woodall, Director of Operations at Chevron Australia, and Steve Trench, Executive Vice President of Operations and Technical Services at Santos.

Danny Woodall
Danny Woodall

Danny Woodall oversees the safe and reliable operations of Chevron’s Gorgon LNG and Wheatstone LNG projects, as well as WA Oil and domestic gas assets. He joined Chevron in 2001 and has held various roles across multiple countries, following his education in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Danny said he was looking forward to collaborating on practical initiatives to support excellence across the industry.

“Decommissioning is a growing industry with potential to provide significant economic, employment and ecological opportunities for Western Australia and the country. As more projects in Australia enter the decommissioning stage of their life-cycle, we have a unique opportunity to work together to develop communities of best practice and deliver world-leading decommissioning outcomes.” – Danny Woodall

Steve Trench
Steve Trench

Steve Trench is responsible for the global Operations and Technical Services Function at Santos. With over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including significant roles at Woodside Energy, he brings a wealth of knowledge in operations, decommissioning, asset management and strategic planning.

“I look forward to working with colleagues and CODA to shape future strategies and priorities.” – Steve Trench

As we welcome Danny and Steve, we also extend our gratitude to David Banks from Santos, who has been an integral part of our committee and whose contributions have been pivotal in shaping our strategies.

These changes underscore our commitment to harnessing top-tier industry expertise to advance Australia’s decommissioning industry.

View our Industry Advisory Committee