“It is apparent that significant additional rectification work and facilities documentation is required at both the onshore plant and offshore platform,” Origin said.
“As the offshore platform is designed to be not-normally-manned the management of logistics and daily movement of personnel to the platform is constraining the speed and effectiveness with which work including additional rectification work can be completed.”
Origin is arrranging to contract a semi-submersible accommodation vessel capable of being positioned adjacent to the Yolla A platform in order to speed up completion of works on the platform.
“This vessel, the Safe Concordia, is designed for North Sea conditions and has recently been used to accommodate workers during activities on the Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea,” Origin said.
“The vessel is expected to be on site in August, with the necessary critical path items for the recommencement of production expected to be completed during September. It is also envisaged that having the accommodation vessel alongside the Yolla A platform will facilitate an improvement in availability during the initial production ramp up phase. ‘
The BassGas Joint Venture participants hold former EPIC contractor Clough Limited responsilbe for these hold-ups and accessed the remaining balance of $12.3 million of the second bank guarantee from Clough in mid June. The joint venture partners are in arbitration process with Clough in relation to these issues.
Origin said it now expected the onshore plant commissioning to begin in September, with commissioning of the integrated BassGas project starting in October. Full production was likely to be reached prior to the end of the calendar year, the company said.
There was some good news, with field reserves being substantially upgraded following completion of the development drilling program.
Proved and probable (2P) sales gas reserves have been revised up 26% to 324 PJ, condensates have risen 2% to 14 million barrels, oil reserves remain unchanged and LPG reserves have dropped 4% to 972 kt.
Origin said it had taken a conservative position in booking these additional reserves and that it was possible that the 2P reserves would increase as further technical work was completed.
The BassGas joint venture comprises Origin Energy Resources (operator and 32.5%), AWE Petroleum Pty Ltd (30%), CalEnergy (Australia) Limited (20%), Wandoo Petroleum Pty Ltd (12.5%) and Origin Energy Northwest Limited (5%).
