The island is approximately 59 km (37 mi) from the mainland coast.

[1][2][3] 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,[4] that is now known as the Varanus Island Processing Hub and owned by Santos Limited.

[5] 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.

[6] The presence of oil and gas field operations appear to not have significantly affected local birdlife.

[7] On 3 June 2008, Apache Energy's primary gas pipeline ruptured, causing an explosion.