Gas giant Inpex faces federal investigation over suspected mercury exposure
The offshore energy regulator is investigating potential mercury exposure on a gas project after workers were exposed to ‘black soot’, with one reporting high blood mercury levels.
The federal government’s offshore energy regulator is investigating a suspected mercury poisoning and potential exposure among workers on Inpex’s Ichthys mega-project off the Northern Territory coast.
The Offshore Alliance, a subsidiary of the Australian Workers’ Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, raised concerns in September after multiple workers on an offshore Ichthys natural gas processing platform were told they had been exposed to mercury sulphate. The compound is a highly toxic heavy metal and can be fatal even through skin exposure.
The alliance took its concerns to the federal government’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Agency, which began an investigation, redoubling its efforts after a union worker reported dangerous blood mercury levels which were allegedly contradicted by a urine test organised through Inpex’s subcontractor Monadelphous.
“Members on the INPEX CPF 2 Project were required to erect scaffold structures inside dehydration scrubbers. The work commenced on 28th August, day and night shift, and was cancelled on the 29th of August due to excessive ‘black soot’ inside the work area and airborne,” an email from Offshore Alliance to NOPSEMA reads.
“The crews were later informed … they had been exposed to mercury sulphate whilst working in the dehydration scrubbers.
“No direction on next steps have been provided to the workforce ... workers haven’t been informed if this incident had been notified to the regulator.”
The Australian understands NOPSEMA conducted an on-site investigation after the first complaint on September 2.
An Offshore Alliance organiser told The Australian none of the affected workers was interviewed.
A second complaint on December 2 said a worker had reported elevated blood mercury levels “in the high range”.
“This is a significant concern, particularly given that the urine tests arranged by Monadelphous immediately following the exposure event were reported as being within normal range for all workers and no further investigations required,” it reads.
“These developments raise serious questions about the adequacy and reliability of the testing methods used by Monadelphous and INPEX.”
Inpex senior vice-president Bill Townsend said on-site safety “remains our highest priority – to protect people, the environment and the ongoing safe operations of Ichthys LNG”.
“We understand matters like this may cause concern,” he said. “During a scheduled shutdown maintenance campaign on 28 August 2025, a substance was observed on the internal wall of a vessel on the Ichthys Explorer. Samples were collected and subsequently confirmed to be mercury sulphide.
“Work in the affected area was immediately suspended, and a comprehensive risk assessment was undertaken, confirming a low health risk.
“Enhanced personal protective equipment was introduced before work safely resumed.
“All test results indicated mercury levels were within the range typically observed.”
Additional reporting: Bimini Plesser
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