The carrier/draw works engine on the rig failed, according to an Arc statement.

In May last year, Rig 28 blew out with an uncontrolled well stream venting an estimated 30 million cubic feet per day into the atmosphere for almost a month. Four workers suffered minor injuries in the accident.

“It is expected that the rig repairs by Century Drilling will take at least another two days, prior to drilling out of the 178mm casing to the first core point in the Irwin River Coal Measures,” said Arc.

Corybas is in the Perth Basin’s production licence L2, approximately 14 km northeast of the township of Dongara and 250 metres southeast of the Central Yardarino-1 well. The proposed total depth of the well is 2670m with casing currently set at 2,425 metres.

Interests in L1 and L2 (excluding the Dongara, Mondarra and Yardarino fields) and Corybas 1 are: Arc (operator) and Origin, 50% each.