Greenpeace protest halts unit at Woodside Scarborough

On Oct. 17, 2026, four Greenpeace activists boarded and occupied a floating production unit at Woodside Energy’s Scarborough gas project off the coast of Western Australia. The activists accessed the semi-submersible installation offshore and remained on the structure as part of a direct action protest.

Greenpeace said the occupation led to a temporary suspension of activity on the floating production unit. Banners were unfurled on the structure, turning the offshore facility into a visible platform for the group’s campaign against new gas developments.

Woodside described the situation as an incident involving individuals who had gained unlawful access to the Scarborough floating production unit. The company said its immediate focus was to manage the situation safely and minimise risks to both the activists and its workforce.

The Australian Border Force confirmed it was aware of protest activity off Western Australia and was working with federal and state agencies in response. Authorities’ involvement highlighted security and safety considerations around critical offshore energy infrastructure.

During the occupation, protesters displayed banners reading “Stop Woodside’s Dirty Gas. Save Scott Reef.” Greenpeace said the action was aimed at increasing pressure on the government in relation to Woodside’s broader Browse proposal near Scott Reef.

Campaigners raised environmental concerns for Scott Reef and nearby marine species in the context of the proposed development. The protest linked the Scarborough facility to a wider debate over future gas projects and their potential impact on marine ecosystems.

Reports placed the value of the Scarborough development at about $12.5 billion. The project is designed to supply liquefied natural gas to export markets as well as gas to domestic customers.

Scarborough’s planned output has been described as an important future source of LNG and domestic gas. While the protest temporarily halted activity on the floating production unit, the reports did not detail any longer-term impact on the project’s broader development timeline.