Varanus Island
Island on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia
title: "Varanus Island" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["important-bird-areas-of-western-australia", "lowendal-islands", "natural-gas-in-western-australia"] description: "Island on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanus_Island" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Island on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox Island"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Varanus Island |
| image | VaranusIslandIncident locator.png |
| image_caption | Varanus Island off Western Australia |
| map | Western Australia |
| map_caption | Location of the Varanus Island in Western Australia |
| location | Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia |
| coordinates | |
| archipelago | Lowendal Islands |
| area_km2 | 0.83 |
| length_km | 2.5 |
| width_km | 0.6 |
| country | Australia |
| country_admin_divisions_title | State |
| country_admin_divisions | Western Australia |
| :: |
| name = Varanus Island | image = VaranusIslandIncident locator.png | image_caption = Varanus Island off Western Australia | map = Western Australia | map_caption = Location of the Varanus Island in Western Australia | location = Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia | coordinates = | archipelago = Lowendal Islands | area_km2 = 0.83 | length_km = 2.5 | width_km = 0.6 | country = Australia | country_admin_divisions_title = State | country_admin_divisions = Western Australia
Varanus Island is the largest of the Lowendal Islands, an archipelago off the north west coast of Western Australia, near Karratha in the Pilbara region. The island is approximately 59 km from the mainland coast. It is located at .
Facilities
It has facilities for piping oil and gas from various locations within the Harriet and East Spar oilfield, that was developed by the Bond Corporation in 1987, that is now known as the Varanus Island Processing Hub and owned by Santos Limited.
Environment
The island is part of the Lowendal Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds. The presence of oil and gas field operations appear to not have significantly affected local birdlife.
2008 gas crisis
On 3 June 2008, Apache Energy's primary gas pipeline ruptured, causing an explosion. The plant was shut down, and all personnel on the island were airlifted out.
References
References
- [[Gazetteer of Australia]] (1996). Belconnen, ACT: Australian Surveying and Land Information Group.
- {{Gazetteer of Australia
- (2003). "Port of Varanus Island".
- Kinhill Engineers. (1987)''Harriet oilfield development: Varanus Island LPG extraction plant: notice of intent'' Victoria Park, W.A.: Kinhill Engineers (Bond Corporation Pty. Ltd. (Petroleum Division) )
- [http://investor.apachecorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=313608 Apache Corporation – Apache Reports Pipeline Rupture and Fire at Varanus Island Processing Hub Offshore Western Australia]
- "IBA: Lowendal Islands". Birds Australia.
- Wildman Andy. (2002) ''Nesting with flare''.(Three-year study of sea birds on the Lowendal Islands shows little ill-effects from the Harriet and East Spar oil and gas fields on Varanus Island, and has provided useful data for Apache Energy in their management of the area). Wildlife Australia, Autumn 2002, p. 38–41
- Hodge, Karen. (2008-06-04). "Gas plant explosion exposes State's vulnerability". The West Australian.
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