# Greenpeace Activists Charged After Disrupting Woodside's Scarborough Gas Project

> Two Greenpeace activists were charged after boarding Woodside Energy's Scarborough gas platform off Western Australia, causing a pause in pre-commissioning work ahead of its planned Q4 2026 start.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-19T15:47:47.360307Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/greenpeace-activists-charged-after-disrupting-woodside-s-scarborough-gas-project-988bf380

Two Greenpeace activists were charged on October 19, 2026, after they boarded and occupied Woodside Energy's Scarborough gas platform off Western Australia, causing the company to pause pre-commissioning work on the project [1][6]. This disruption stalled progress on a project expected to produce up to 8 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of liquefied natural gas when fully operational [14][15].

This event highlights the escalating conflict between environmental groups and fossil fuel companies over major energy projects, directly impacting project timelines and costs [6][9]. The Scarborough project, a significant contributor to Australia's gas exports, faces persistent opposition over its projected greenhouse gas emissions and impact on marine ecosystems [6][11].

## What the records show

The Scarborough gas project involves developing gas resources located approximately 375 kilometers off Western Australia in the Carnarvon Basin [2][3][4]. The project includes new offshore facilities, such as a semi-submersible floating production unit (FPU) moored in about 900 to 950 meters of water [3][4][5]. A 430-kilometer subsea pipeline connects these offshore facilities to the Pluto LNG onshore facility near Karratha [2][3][4]. The project aims to commercialize approximately 5 Mtpa of Scarborough gas through Pluto Train 2 and up to 3 Mtpa through modifications to the existing Pluto Train 1 [14][15]. The gas from the Scarborough field contains about 0.1% carbon dioxide, and Woodside aims for Pluto Train 2 to have a greenhouse gas intensity of approximately 0.26 tCO2e/tLNG [12][16]. Woodside Energy is the operator of the Scarborough Joint Venture with a 74.9% participating interest [5]. JERA holds a 15.1% non-participating interest and LNG Japan holds a 10% non-participating interest [5]. For Pluto Train 2, Woodside holds a 51% participating interest, and Global Infrastructure Partners holds a 49% non-participating interest [5].

## The timeline

Woodside Energy approved the Final Investment Decision for its Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 developments on November 22, 2021 [16]. Construction activities for Pluto Train 2 began in August 2022 [15]. By December 30, 2024, Pluto Train 2 modules had been delivered to Australia [15]. On October 17, 2026, Greenpeace campaigners scaled the 70,000-tonne floating production unit at the Scarborough gas site [8]. Two activists set up temporary hanging tents and slept on the platform overnight [6][9]. On October 18, 2026, Woodside paused pre-commissioning work at the Scarborough project [6][7][9]. The two activists who remained on the platform were taken into police custody later that Sunday [6]. On October 19, 2026, these two Greenpeace activists were due to face court [1].

## What changed and for whom

Woodside Energy paused pre-commissioning work at the Scarborough project following the protest [6][7][9]. This halt occurred just ahead of the project's anticipated first liquefied natural gas cargo in the fourth quarter of 2026 [6][8]. Greenpeace stated the project would cause

## Evidence cited
1. Breaking: Climate activists charged after Woodside offshore rig stunt (www.abc.net.au) — https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-19/greenpeace-woodside-protestors-charged-scarborough-stunt/107282650
2. Here's the impact of Woodside's Scarborough gas project. (unsw.edu.au) — https://unsw.edu.au/
3. Approved projects and activities · Historical. Banner image. Project - Scarborough Project. (nopsema.gov.au) — https://nopsema.gov.au/
4. Woodside Energy, a global energy company founded in Australia, is developing the Scarborough natural gas field, located in the Carnarvon Basin, approximately 375 km off the coast of Western Australia. For this project, called the “Scarborough Energy Project,” Saipem installed a trunkline to connect a semi-submersible floating production unit (FPU), anchored at a depth of 950 metres, to a second LNG train (Pluto Train 2) at the onshore Pluto LNG plant. (saipem.com) — https://saipem.com/
5. Woodside Energy - Pluto Train 1 Modifications (woodside.com) — https://woodside.com/
6. Woodside pauses Scarborough LNG pre-commissioning amid Greenpeace protest (worldoil.com) — https://worldoil.com/
7. Woodside pauses Scarborough gas work after Greenpeace boards platform (thenextweb.com) — https://thenextweb.com/
8. Activists occupy Woodside's floating gas platform (countrynews.com.au) — https://countrynews.com.au/
9. Woodside halts work at Scarborough gas project after Greenpeace protest (investing.com) — https://investing.com/
10. Woodside Pauses Scarborough Pre-Commissioning After Greenpeace Protesters Board Platform (indexbox.io) — https://indexbox.io/
11. Greenpeace calls out Woodside’s anti-democratic “SLAPP suit” against climate campaigners as an attempt to silence growing opposition to drilling at Scott Reef (greenpeace.org.au) — https://greenpeace.org.au/
12. Baker Hughes Providing Technology for Woodside’s Pluto Train 2 LNG Expansion in Australia (bakerhughes.com) — https://bakerhughes.com/
13. Pluto Train 2 (bechtel.com) — https://bechtel.com/
14. Woodside hits Pluto Train 2 milestone for Scarborough LNG project (offshore-energy.biz) — https://offshore-energy.biz/
15. Pluto Train 2 Modules for Scarborough Project Delivered to Australia (spe.org) — https://spe.org/
16. Woodside’s Pluto Train 2: Driving a Lower-Carbon LNG Future in Australia - A Case Study (conocophillips.com) — https://conocophillips.com/