Compressor Station, Barrow Island

Parent Place or Precinct

14365 Barrow Island Marine Area - part

Statement of Significance

The place is associated with the industrial operations associated with processing of gas and oil at Barrow Island, the largest onshore operating oilfield in Australia;
The establishment of a commercial oilfield at Barrow Island was the start of Australia’s growing independence and self-sufficiency in oil and gas, and the important role of resource-rich Western Australia in this development;
The changes that have occurred over time at Barrow Island, including the construction, operation and decommissioning of Compressor Station, Barrow Island reflect the transition from oil production to liquid gas extraction in response to changing market demands over time in Western Australia and across the world.

Physical Description

The place comprises the main industrial building, which houses two Ingersoll Rand 48 KVGR Compressors. As at April 2015, one compressor was partly dismantled. The other continued to operate until late 2014. The Control Room, Aerial Cooler, Cascade Cooler and Scrubbers are still in place.
The main building and associated plant machinery are located on concrete slabs. The ground level of the two-storey steel framed building is open on three sides, with the remaining walls clad in corrugated iron. The remaining plant machinery is accessed via steel catwalks and steps, and the upper level flooring consists of steel floor plates.

History

In 1964 West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. was granted License to Prospect No.113H and the first oil well on Barrow Island was drilled. In July the same year, West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd announced that oil had been struck in the Barrow Island No. 1 well and that a full-scale development programme would be launched to determine the commercial viability of the field. Compressor Station, Barrow Island was constructed circa 1972, and is likely to be associated with the drive to extract and process greater amounts of oil and gas from the Barrow Island resource.

Condition

As at 2015, the plant has been partly decommissioned.

Uses

Creation Date

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Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.