Gas industry slowdowns have led Saxon Energy Services to offer voluntary redundancy packages to staff in Queensland.
The oil- and gasfield services provider opened a base in Toowoomba in June 2013, however with the industry waiting for gas production to come online at Curtis Island, the demand for for drilling services has declined.
Saxon Energy’s Luke Fleming said the company had gone through some changes and had to stand down several rigs, with expectations that drilling would slow down over the next 12 months.
“Currently the company is going through a situation like others, we're waiting for the gas to go online,” Fleming said.
“At the moment it's just Queensland that's slowing down.
“The big four companies, Origin, Santos, Queensland Gas Corporation and Arrow have mostly got the wells that they require for now.”
Fleming said workers in Charleton were also being offered other jobs within the company if available.
Saxon employs 490 workers in Queensland, of a 600-strong workforce nationwide.