Australia, Onslow

Wheatstone

Innovation over open water

As part of Chevron’s Wheatstone Project, BESIX, in partnership with Thiess, delivered a complex package of marine infrastructure in one of Australia’s most remote and environmentally challenging regions. The project included the design and construction of two quays and a 1-kilometre breakwater, that will facilitate transport and protect the operation's harbour from storms and heavy seas.

Project overview

Located in Onslow, Western Australia, the Wheatstone project is a major energy development led by Chevron. BESIX, together with joint venture partner Thiess, was selected to deliver critical marine infrastructure in support of the project. The works were carried out between 2011 and 2014 in a region known for its tropical storms, high seas, and remote access. The end result: a robust offloading facility featuring two quays and a breakwater engineered to withstand extreme weather and seismic activity for over 50 years.

Scope of work

BESIX and Thiess were responsible for the full design, procurement, and construction of the marine facilities. This included:

Two offloading quays
A 1-kilometre breakwater made of rock and concrete
Innovative foundation solutions tailored to offshore conditions

The joint venture worked closely with Chevron to meet stringent safety, environmental, and performance standards, delivering the project ahead of schedule and without incident.

Key highlights

Engineering innovation: The project introduced construction techniques never before applied to offshore structures, including the use of offshore stone columns combined with partial soil replacement to optimize costs and stability.
Challenging conditions: The remote location and unpredictable weather demanded a highly adaptive and safety-focused approach.
Sustainability: The breakwater was designed to endure storm surges, extreme waves, and seismic events.

Our ability to work proactively with the client to find design solutions along with our safety culture, high performance and reliability have made us one of the most trusted subcontractors on site.