The operator of the Basker Manta oil project said it had contracted SWG Offshore to repair the full mooring system on the vessel, which broke free and drifted away during stormy weather earlier this month.

But the contractor will not deploy the TS Marine-owned Havila Harmony construction-diving support vessel to the field until mid-September, meaning full production is expected to restart in late September or early October.

Anzon said further investigation showed the basic integrity of the mooring system was not the reason the Basker Spirit broke free from its mooring.

“The problem was due to a shackle pin dislodging, allowing the upper section of the mooring to separate from the anchor spread,” Anzon said.

“While the associated costs and deferred production are a disappointment, the underlying problem can be rectified easily in a manner that minimises the chances of a reoccurrence of the problem.”

Until the mooring is fixed, Anzon and partner Beach Petroleum plan to use the Crystal Ocean floating production and storage offtake vessel to shuttle oil to the Basker while it is moored at port.

The first ship-to-ship transfer is complete, and about 3000 barrels of oil per day is expected to be produced in this way.

Anzon said the joint venture had insurance cover for physical damage and business interruption.

The JV has secured the Kan Tan IV rig for its 2008 drilling program

“The contract with the Kan Tan IV is in addition to the drilling slot with the Ocean Patriot to be used to drill the Basker-6 development well in the first quarter of 200,” Anzon said.

“Kan Tan IV contract provides 135 days of additional rig time starting in mid 2008 with which to drill a range of wells that are likely to include additional Basker oil wells, gas delineation and exploration wells.”