Case Study: Barrow Island

Barrow Island lies off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. It is a Class A Nature Reserve and home to Chevron’s Gorgon Project. The island is the location of the world’s largest non-government quarantine management system (Chevron Australia).

The challenge

Non-indigenous species are the greatest threat to Barrow Island’s native flora and fauna (Chevron). All cargo and people are screened and inspected before they arrive on the island (Chevron).

The freight task is large. By April 2016 Chevron reported more than 4 million tonnes of freight delivered to Barrow Island during Gorgon construction. That included more than 200,000 domestic twenty-foot equivalent containers (Chevron Australia).

Cargo that does not meet quarantine standards is remediated in a Quarantine Approved Premises. Options include recleaning or fumigation with methyl bromide or ethyl formate (Biological Invasions, 2023).

Satellite map of Barrow Island and the Montebello Islands
Barrow Island (lower left) and the Montebello Islands. Image: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Ethyl formate with nitrogen

Chevron Australia and the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre researched ethyl formate with nitrogen for container disinfestation. Results showed ethyl formate was effective in killing surface pests in 20 and 40 foot containers loaded with metals, plastics and other items. Trials followed on in-transit fumigation of containers from Perth to Barrow Island (Inspector-General of Biosecurity).

The late Professor Yong Lin Ren of Murdoch University was lead author of this research. It underpins UBL’s patented Fume8 technology.

Fume8 in operation

Fume8 was purpose-built for cargo biosecurity at Barrow Island and Wheatstone. UBL has worked with leading fumigation and logistics companies to complete large-scale commercial fumigation of containers destined for the Gorgon Project.

Fume8 devices leased to QUBE Energy and Shorpak have treated sea containers bound for Barrow Island. Over the 12 months to October 2025 they averaged more than 200 containers a month. Shorpak continues to use Fume8 today.

Fume8 unit in operation at a sea container

Why it matters

  • Ethyl formate is not an ozone depleting substance. It occurs naturally in some fruits and breaks down quickly in the environment (DAFF).
  • Fume8 generates the fumigant on site from liquid ethyl formate and nitrogen. There is no need to ship pre-mixed pressurised cylinders.
  • Nitrogen acts as an inert carrier gas to overcome the flammability of ethyl formate.
  • In-transit trials point to treatment during the journey, which can reduce the time cargo sits waiting for fumigation.

Banner image: Barrow Island from the International Space Station, 2007 (NASA, public domain). Chevron, Gorgon and Wheatstone are referred to for context only. Their mention does not imply endorsement of UBL.