As a community-centric company, Wild Desert’s values are deeply embedded in its locally focused approach. COO, Mark Tonin, discusses how commitment to safety and innovative solutions has positioned it as a leader in the oil and gas industry.
AN OASIS OF EXCELLENCE
Established in 2005 in the charming town of Roma, Queensland (QLD), Wild Desert is a dedicated, family-owned Australian enterprise driven by a clear vision – to deliver exceptional oil and gas field services built on safety, efficiency, and a can-do attitude.
Since its inception, the company has focused on supporting regional communities and local suppliers whilst maintaining strong partnerships with major energy operators.
This commitment to quality and reliability has shaped Wild Desert’s reputation as a trusted name in the industry.
“Today, we employ more than 450 people and remain deeply connected to our roots. In fact, Founders, David Whiley and Gina Tedford, still live in Roma and are active members of the local community,” introduces Mark Tonin, COO.
“Our core expertise lies in well servicing and integrated field support. We operate a fleet of well servicing rigs and provide comprehensive solutions, including well interventions, transport and logistics, mobile camps, equipment hire, maintenance, and fabrication.”
Wild Desert invests in innovation through its in-house design and engineering capabilities, ensuring customised solutions for complex field challenges.
“Safety and operational excellence remain at the heart of everything we do, supported by rigorous standards and continuous workforce development,” he notes.
Furthermore, with its headquarters in Roma and a corporate office in Brisbane, QLD, Wild Desert maintains a strong presence across the Surat and Cooper Basins, significant geological formations known for their large resources and economic importance.
“Our clients include leading oil and gas operators who value our responsiveness, flexibility, and proactive problem-solving.
“As we continue to grow, our founding principles – family values, community support, and a relentless focus on safety – guide our operations and long-term partnerships,” Tonin impassions.
RESILIENT AND THRIVING
Over the past 20 years, Wild Desert has navigated multiple industry challenges, including sharp downturns in oil and gas activity and the liquified natural gas (LNG) investment cycle, as well as the unprecedented disruption caused by global events.
Each downturn brought reduced rig utilisation, project deferrals, and significant workforce pressures and reductions, whilst the COVID-19 pandemic added supply chain delays, border restrictions, and heightened health and safety requirements.
These cycles tested the resilience of service providers across Australia, particularly those operating in remote regions.
However, what sets Wild Desert apart is its ability to adapt and maintain stability through these volatile periods.
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“As a family-owned company, we’ve built a reputation for reliability by offering integrated solutions – well servicing, logistics, mobile camps, maintenance, and in-house design and fabrication – under one roof.
“Our ‘local-first’ approach strengthens supply chains and supports regional communities, whilst our unwavering focus on safety and operational excellence ensures continuity even in challenging conditions,” Tonin prides.
Meanwhile, Whiley and Tedford remain active in Roma, reinforcing a culture of trust, accountability, and long-term partnership that competitors often struggle to match.
“A key differentiator for us is our Australian-only focus and local ownership. Unlike global service providers, which often face delays due to overseas decision-making or competing international priorities, Wild Desert operates without influence from foreign markets or global headquarters,” he explains.
“This independence allows us to respond quickly to clients’ needs, adapt to local conditions, and maintain operational certainty – critical advantages in an industry where timing and reliability are everything.”
This combination of scale, flexibility, innovation, and community commitment has allowed Wild Desert to not only survive industry downturns but also emerge stronger, with a proven track record of delivering safe, efficient, and responsive services when clients need them most.
“As we continue to grow, our founding principles – family values, community support, and a relentless focus on safety – guide our operations and long-term partnerships”
Mark Tonin, COO, Wild Desert
REVAMPING OPERATIONS
Wild Desert’s local manufacturing, maintenance, and fabrication facility contributes to its overall efficiency and service capabilities.
“Our local manufacturing facility is a major contributor to our efficiency and service capability. Having in-house engineering, maintenance, and fabrication means we can handle repairs, modifications, and equipment builds without relying on external vendors,” imparts Tonin.
This approach reduces downtime, quickens turnarounds, and keeps operations running smoothly by ensuring equipment is fit for purpose and withstands the harsh conditions the Australian landscape demands.
“Our rigs operate in isolated locations, with the Cooper Basin specifically being an extremely demanding and challenging environment. The remoteness of well sites requires robust equipment that is durable and can support 24/7 operations, as clients demand and expect,” he outlines.
“The ability to fabricate and assemble ancillary equipment, from trailered mud tanks and mud pump and generator trailers to office shacks, bespoke skids, and support equipment, gives us the flexibility to meet specific customer needs quickly and cost-effectively.”
Ultimately, this self-sufficiency enables Wild Desert to maintain high standards, respond more quickly to challenges, and deliver reliable field services.
A new hybrid-electric rig, meanwhile, is expected to bring several improvements to the company’s operations, such as lower noise levels that will enhance safety and comfort for crews and reduce disturbances for landholders.
The rig’s lower fuel consumption will also mean fewer emissions, less fuel transport, and improved safety through reduced travel to fuel resupply points.
“Moving away from hydraulic systems reduces the risk of oil leaks, which is a huge environmental win.
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Additionally, improved remote diagnostics and real-time monitoring via variable-frequency drives (VFDs) will help minimise downtime and increase overall efficiency.
“Since this is the first rig of its kind in the workover space, we expect even more benefits to emerge once it is fully operational and has completed several work scopes,” Tonin affirms.
“As a family-owned company, we’ve built a reputation for reliability by offering integrated solutions – well servicing, logistics, mobile camps, maintenance, and in-house design and fabrication – under one roof”
Mark Tonin, COO, Wild Desert
REVOLUTIONISING THE FUTURE
Reflecting Wild Desert’s commitment to innovation and efficiency in the drilling and completions industry, the company recently completed an advantageous project that showcases its adoption of autonomous technology.
“One of our most significant initiatives in 2024 has been the complete refurbishment and upgrade of two conventional workover rigs, transforming them into highly automated, integrated systems.
“This project was executed entirely in-house at our Roma maintenance facility and workshops, where we stripped the rigs back to their chassis and rebuilt them to deliver a modernised design that combines the robustness of conventional rigs with advanced automation and electronic controls,” details Tonin.
Key enhancements include an enclosed, air-conditioned driller’s cabin for improved safety and comfort and a fully integrated driller’s console featuring touchscreen readouts and joystick controls, enabling remote operation of mud pumps, air compressors, and booster packages.
These benefits are complemented by other advantages, including remote monitoring of all critical parameters, automated workover functions, including a weight-on-bit calculator and digital indicators, and safety integrations, such as floor- and crown-saver functions.
It also has hands-free rig-up and rig-down capabilities via remote control and hydraulic guy lines, with pressure monitoring, for enhanced stability.
This is a crucial development because integrated design delivers a fast, agile, and purpose-built QLD coal seam gas package, ensuring operational efficiency through automation and remote functionality.
Moreover, safety is enhanced with advanced monitoring and hands-free processes, alongside long-term durability and reduced downtime, thanks to modern joystick controls, digital readouts, and real-time data monitoring.
“To complement the rig refurbishment programme, we designed, fabricated, and assembled new mud pump and tank trailers entirely in-house. These were engineered with a strong focus on human factors and operational efficiency, incorporating advanced features such as next-generation acoustic panelling for superior sound attenuation and remote monitoring functions.
“This investment significantly enhances rig performance and delivers faster, more efficient rig-up and rig-down operations. By integrating these purpose-built trailers, we have strengthened the overall capability of our workover packages, ensuring greater reliability and productivity in the field,” he elaborates.
EMPOWERING SUSTAINABILITY
With the global shift towards net zero emissions, Wild Desert is pursuing innovations in battery-operated rigs and ancillary products.
“Our company is actively investing in innovations that reduce environmental impact whilst maintaining operational efficiency. A key focus has been on electrification and hybrid technologies; for example, we have deployed solar-powered remote office shacks on-site, reducing fuel use for auxiliary power.
“Future projects include solar-powered remote camps and we are currently looking into the feasibility of larger-scale hybrid support equipment, including remote camps. We are finalising the pre-commissioning of our hybrid-electric workover rig, supported by a battery trailer with generator back-up. This system allows us to perform an entire well workover on battery power alone,” Tonin specifies.
The benefits are substantial – reduced emissions, fuel consumption, and spill risk, for instance, align with sustainability targets and enhance environmental outcomes, whilst lower noise levels improve crew working conditions and enable operations in noise-sensitive receptors.
A reduction in fuel burn requirements and fuel deliveries is also critical because driving remains one of the riskiest activities in Australia’s onshore oil and gas industry. Distances will be similar for trips, but overall kilometres driven will be lower because fewer trips are required.
“These innovations not only help us achieve sustainability goals but also support our clients in meeting their own net zero commitments whilst delivering tangible safety and operational benefits,” emphasises Tonin.
“At Wild Desert, we pride ourselves on our innovation, agility, and flexibility – adapting quickly to client priorities and operational challenges. By integrating solutions like hybrid-electric rigs, battery-powered systems, and solar infrastructure, we deliver practical, environmentally responsible outcomes without compromising performance.”
QUALITY AND COMMUNITY
In the coming year, Wild Desert aspires to accomplish a multitude of ambitious goals.
“Our primary objective for the next 12 months is to sustain the highest standards of service quality whilst continuing to support our key strategic clients in delivering reliable and affordable energy.
“At the same time, we remain committed to strengthening relationships with local suppliers and communities that have been integral to our success since the company began,” Tonin sets out.
As Wild Desert moves towards achieving its goals, the company is also focused on innovation and operational efficiency.
Robust processes position it well as the annual outlook appears promising and is characterised by consistency.
“In 2026, we anticipate operating 14 rigs, fully supported by our internal business units and divisions to ensure seamless execution. Based on current forecasts and global energy demand, the outlook for 2026-27 appears steady and stable.”
To complete these objectives, Wild Desert will implement strategic initiatives that promote collaboration and innovation across all teams, ensuring every member is aligned with its vision for sustainable growth.
“Future growth will largely depend on industry activity levels and market dynamics over the next few years. A major focus will be on developing and retaining top talent, enhancing crew expertise, and investing in training programmes to maintain unparalleled excellence in service delivery.
“Safety and operational efficiency will remain at the core of everything we do as these are fundamental to our reputation and long-term success,” Tonin emphatically concludes.
Through an unwavering commitment to these principles, Wild Desert strives to uphold its high industry standards and build a brighter future for all involved.
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