ExxonMobil Australia
The Australian affiliate of ExxonMobil, operating offshore oil and gas assets, processing facilities, pipelines and Mobil-branded retail fuel operations.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
ExxonMobil Australia is the Australian affiliate of the United States-based energy company ExxonMobil. Its Australian activities have historically centered on the Gippsland Basin and Bass Strait, offshore Victoria, together with onshore processing and distribution infrastructure in the Gippsland region. The business has operated oil and gas platforms in Bass Strait, a gas-processing facility at Longford, and the Long Island Point facility near Hastings. These assets connect offshore production with gas processing, petroleum liquids handling and regional supply infrastructure. The Australian business traces its operating history to the Esso and Standard Oil interests that preceded the global Exxon–Mobil combination. The Esso trademark was registered in Australia in 1937, and between 1933 and 1962 the Australian operation was associated with Stanvac or Standard Oil. After 1962 it operated as Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd. Esso also had a substantial Australian retail presence, but its service-station operations were transferred to Mobil in 1990 after 63 years of Esso retail activity. When Exxon and Mobil completed their global merger in November 1999, their Australian affiliates were combined under ExxonMobil Australia. The merged business inherited interests connected with the Adelaide and Altona refineries; Adelaide ceased operations in 2003 and was later demolished. ExxonMobil Australia's activities have included exploration, production, gas processing, crude oil and natural-gas handling, and the sale of fuels through the Mobil brand. Its industrial footprint has made it an important participant in Victoria's energy system, particularly because Longford has been connected to the state's natural-gas supply. The company has also pursued infrastructure intended to condition gas by removing carbon dioxide, including a planned gas-conditioning plant adjacent to its Longford facilities, developed in conjunction with BHP Billiton. The company has faced significant operational, regulatory and labor scrutiny. A 1998 explosion at Longford killed two people and injured eight. The incident disrupted gas supply across Victoria, with many households losing gas hot water or heating for approximately 20 days. A Royal Commission attributed responsibility to Esso, and a jury later found the company guilty of 11 occupational-health-and-safety offences and imposed a fine of A$2 million. A separate crude-oil spill occurred at Longford in November 2012. From 2017, maintenance workers employed through contractors at Longford and associated Bass Strait facilities conducted a prolonged industrial dispute over proposed reductions in pay and employment conditions. The business was also drawn into public debate over corporate taxation after figures cited in a parliamentary inquiry indicated that ExxonMobil Australia paid no corporate income tax during the 2013–14 to 2015–16 period on reported revenue of A$24.7 billion; the company emphasized its payments of petroleum resource rent tax and argued that it had contributed a fair share. A later structural change involved the planned transfer of operatorship of ExxonMobil Australia's Bass Strait oil and gas assets to Woodside Energy, while the companies retained their existing equity interests. Under the announced arrangement, Woodside was expected to assume operation of offshore facilities, the Longford and Long Island Point plants, and associated pipelines by 2026, with affected ExxonMobil employees transferring to Woodside. ExxonMobil Australia therefore represents both a long-standing Australian upstream and midstream operation and a retail fuel presence using the Mobil identity, while its asset-operator role is being reshaped through the Bass Strait transition.
History
ExxonMobil Australia's history is rooted in the Australian activities of Esso and Standard Oil rather than in a separately documented founding event for the present affiliate. Esso's Australian presence was associated with Stanvac or Standard Oil from 1933 to 1962. The Esso trademark was registered in Australia in 1937, and after 1962 the operation was known as Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd. Esso developed both petroleum retailing and oil-and-gas operations in Australia. Its retail stations operated for 63 years before being acquired by Mobil in 1990. The retail business subsequently operated under the Mobil identity, while Esso's upstream and industrial interests continued to develop, especially in Bass Strait and the Gippsland Basin. Offshore platforms were linked to onshore facilities at Longford and Long Island Point, creating an integrated chain for production, processing and distribution. The most consequential event in the company's Australian history occurred at Longford on 25 September 1998, when a gas explosion killed two workers and injured eight. The accident interrupted Victoria's gas supply and left many households without gas-based hot water or heating for about 20 days. A Royal Commission found Esso responsible for the disaster. A jury later convicted the company of 11 offences under Victoria's Occupational Health and Safety Act and imposed a A$2 million fine. In November 1999, Exxon and Mobil completed their global merger, and the Australian affiliates were combined as ExxonMobil Australia. The merged enterprise inherited the Adelaide and Altona refineries. Adelaide closed in 2003 and was demolished in 2009. The company's core Australian footprint thereafter remained concentrated on Bass Strait production, Longford gas processing, Long Island Point infrastructure and Mobil-branded retail fuel operations. ExxonMobil and BHP Billiton also advanced plans for a gas-conditioning plant beside the existing Longford facilities. The proposed plant was intended to remove carbon dioxide from natural gas before further processing or delivery. Longford later experienced another environmental incident when a crude-oil spill was reported in November 2012. Labor relations became a prominent issue in 2017. Maintenance workers at Longford and connected offshore facilities had been employed through contractors, including UGL in a joint venture with KAEFER Integrated Services. After UGL won the contract outright, it offered affected workers positions under changed terms and reduced conditions through MTCT Services. Many workers rejected the offer and protested outside the facility from June 2017. Unions challenged the representativeness of the enterprise agreement, while Esso and the unions criticized one another publicly. The company also attracted attention in Australia's corporate-tax debate. Figures presented in 2017 indicated that ExxonMobil Australia paid no corporate income tax during the 2013–14 to 2015–16 period despite A$24.7 billion in revenue. ExxonMobil maintained that it had contributed substantially through petroleum resource rent tax, reporting A$12 billion paid since that tax was introduced in 1990. Executives were scheduled to appear before a Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance in early 2018. A later transition concerned operatorship rather than ownership. Woodside Energy agreed to take over operation of ExxonMobil Australia's Bass Strait assets, including offshore facilities, the Longford and Long Island Point plants and associated pipelines, while both companies retained their equity interests. The handover was expected to be completed by 2026, with affected ExxonMobil personnel moving to Woodside. This arrangement marked a significant change in the operating structure of the Australian business.
- 2026
Target for Bass Strait operatorship transition
[1]Woodside was expected to complete the planned transfer of operatorship for Bass Strait and associated onshore assets by this year.
- 2017
Maintenance labor dispute begins
[1]Workers affected by a contractor transition began sustained protests over proposed reductions in pay and conditions.
- 2012
Longford crude-oil spill
[1]A crude-oil spill was reported at the Longford operation.
- 2009
Adelaide refinery demolished
[1]The former Adelaide refinery site was demolished after closure.
- 2003
Adelaide refinery closes
[1]The Adelaide refinery inherited by the merged Australian operation ceased production.
- 1999
ExxonMobil Australia formed
[1]The Australian affiliates of Exxon and Mobil merged after completion of the global Exxon–Mobil transaction.
- 1998
Longford gas explosion
[1]An explosion at Longford caused fatalities, injuries and a major interruption to Victoria's natural-gas supply.
- 1990
Esso retail stations transferred to Mobil
[1]Esso's Australian service-station operations were acquired by Mobil after decades of Esso retail activity.
- 1962
Australian operation adopts Esso Standard Oil name
[1]After the earlier Standard Oil association, the Australian operation became known as Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd.
- 1937
Esso trademark registered in Australia
[1]The Esso name was formally registered as a trademark in Australia.
Products and positioning
A major Australian oil and gas operator with a long-standing upstream and gas-processing presence in Victoria, complemented by Mobil-branded retail fuel operations.
Upstream oil production
Bass Strait crude oil
ExxonMobil Australia's Australian upstream portfolio has included crude-oil production from offshore platforms in Bass Strait, south-east of Melbourne. The oil assets form part of an integrated regional system that historically connected offshore production with onshore handling and processing infrastructure. Operatorship of these assets was planned to transfer to Woodside Energy while the companies retained their existing equity interests.
Upstream gas production
Bass Strait natural gas
Natural gas produced from Bass Strait fields has been processed through ExxonMobil Australia's Gippsland infrastructure, particularly the Longford facility. The operation has been significant to Victoria's gas supply, making production continuity and facility reliability matters of statewide importance. Woodside was expected to assume operatorship of the related offshore and onshore facilities by 2026.
Gas processing
Longford gas processing
The Longford complex processes gas from the Gippsland Basin and has been a central part of ExxonMobil Australia's Victorian operating system. Plans were developed for an adjacent gas-conditioning plant designed to remove carbon dioxide from natural gas. Longford has also been the site of the company's most serious Australian industrial accident and a later crude-oil spill.
Petroleum liquids and gas infrastructure
Long Island Point facilities
Long Island Point near Hastings is part of the Australian asset system associated with ExxonMobil's Bass Strait production. The site supports handling and processing activities linked to offshore oil and gas operations. Under the proposed transaction with Woodside, operatorship of Long Island Point and associated pipelines was expected to transfer together with the wider Bass Strait portfolio.
Retail petroleum · 1990
Mobil retail fuels
ExxonMobil Australia's retail petroleum operations use the Mobil brand. Mobil acquired Esso's Australian service-station operations in 1990, before the Exxon–Mobil corporate merger created ExxonMobil Australia in 1999. The retail business is distinct from the company's offshore production and gas-processing infrastructure but remains part of its Australian brand presence.
Controversies
2017
Contractor labor dispute at Longford
Workers and unions challenged a contractor transition involving lower pay and changed conditions, arguing that the relevant enterprise agreement had not been negotiated representatively with the Victorian workforce.
2017
Corporate tax-avoidance inquiry
ExxonMobil Australia was drawn into a Senate inquiry after figures indicated that it paid no corporate income tax on A$24.7 billion in revenue across the 2013–14 to 2015–16 period. ExxonMobil cited its petroleum resource rent tax and other payments in response.
2012
Longford crude-oil spill
A crude-oil spill at Longford prompted additional scrutiny of the company's environmental and operational controls.
1998
Longford gas explosion and safety convictions
A gas explosion at Longford killed two people and injured eight. A Royal Commission found Esso responsible, and a jury later found the company guilty of 11 offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and imposed a A$2 million fine.
Brand decisions
2003
Close Adelaide refineryStrategyBackground
The Adelaide refinery was among the assets inherited through the Exxon–Mobil Australian combination.
Action taken
The refinery was shut down, and the site was later demolished in 2009.
Aftermath
ExxonMobil Australia's Australian refining footprint was reduced while its Bass Strait and Victorian gas-processing activities remained central.
1999
Merge Australian Exxon and Mobil affiliatesM&ABackground
The global Exxon–Mobil merger required the two companies' Australian affiliates to be combined.
Action taken
The Australian businesses were merged to form ExxonMobil Australia.
Aftermath
The combined company inherited the Australian upstream, processing, retail and refinery interests of both predecessors.
1990
Transfer Australian Esso retail operations to MobilStrategyBackground
Esso had operated Australian service stations for 63 years, but its retail network was acquired by Mobil before the companies later merged globally.
Action taken
Australian service-station operations moved under the Mobil identity.
Aftermath
Mobil became the retail fuel brand inherited by the ExxonMobil Australian affiliate after the 1999 corporate merger.
- Transfer Bass Strait operatorship to WoodsideM&A
Background
ExxonMobil and Woodside agreed to change operational control of the Bass Strait oil and gas portfolio while preserving their existing equity interests.
Action taken
Woodside was to assume operatorship of the offshore facilities, Longford, Long Island Point and associated pipelines, with affected ExxonMobil employees transferring to Woodside.
Aftermath
Completion was expected by 2026 and would materially change ExxonMobil Australia's role from operator to non-operating participant in the affected assets.
Recent events
- 2003
Adelaide refinery closes[1]
Other
The Adelaide refinery inherited through the Exxon–Mobil Australian combination ceased operations.
- 1999
Exxon and Mobil Australian affiliates complete merger[1]
M&A
Following the global Exxon–Mobil merger, the companies' Australian affiliates were combined to form ExxonMobil Australia. The new business inherited assets including the Adelaide and Altona refineries.
Woodside to assume operatorship of Bass Strait assets[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Woodside Energy agreed to take over operatorship of ExxonMobil Australia's Bass Strait oil and gas assets while the companies retained their existing equity positions. Completion was expected by 2026, with operation of offshore and associated onshore facilities transferring to Woodside.
Sources2 sources
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