Woodside, which owns 60% of the field, yesterday confirmed the FPSO would need to be spent to Singapore for assessment and repairs, after a linear winch wire broke during the trials, according to reports in the Australian and the West Australian newspapers.

The field was originally scheduled to begin production in the third quarter of this year. But at the company’s annual general meeting last month, Woodside chief executive Don Voelte said it was likely that Enfield could start producing in the second quarter.

Following repairs, the FPSO is expected to return to Enfield next month – meaning production would not start until early to mid-July, reported the West Australian.

The Nganhurra FPSO, which can produce up to 150,000 tonnes per day, can store a maximum of 900,000 barrels.

The Enfield oil field is estimated to contain at least 124 million bbl of oil.