However, the State Government mining regulator told the company that the operation would be shut down as a safety measure if there was any risk of adverse weather, such as cyclones.
The corrosion has occurred in the welds of pipes, or risers, connecting the unmanned Wandoo A monopod with the main Wandoo B production platform, 75km north of Karratha. Both the flow line and test line were affected.
The lines carry a highly corrosive mixture of hot oil, salt water, gas and carbon dioxide. The DMPR closed part of the operation for four weeks in June when the corrosion was discovered.
The Wandoo oil field was discovered in 1991 and initial recoverable oil reserves were estimated at 75 million barrels, giving the field a production life of about 20 years. Mobil Exploration & Producing own 60% of the project and is the operator with the remaining 40% owned by Wandoo Petroleum.
