Overall the effect was minimal with total sales volumes for the quarter still reaching 21.03 petajoules equivalent (PJe), up 3.8 PJe from the March quarter but 0.6 PJe or 3% lower than sales in the corresponding quarter last year.
Apart from the Moomba fire Origin singled out delays in bringing Jingemia-4 online in the Perth Basin and the shut-in of Eremia due to high water cut and temporary usage of the facilities for gas production testing. Oil sales from the Perth Basin were, however, 66% higher than the corresponding period last year.
Following the fire in the Moomba Liquids Recovery Plant (LRP), the LRP Train-A was reinstated on June 1st, enabling production of ethane, propane and butane to resume at approximately 70% of normal capacity. Full liquids production is expected to be achieved with the reinstatement of the LRP Train-B in early August 2004.
Since the incident fifteen wells (6 exploration, 1 appraisal, 8 development) were drilled in the Cooper Basin, with twelve of these being cased and suspended as future producers (7 gas, 3 oil and 2 oil and gas).
In the Perth Basin the appraisal well Jingemia-4 was drilled on the Jingemia field producing a clean-up flow rate of around 3500bopd. When fully commissioned Jingemia-4 is expected to lift the production from the Hovea, Eremia and Jingemia fields towards 10,000bopd (Origin share 5000 bopd).
Additionally Origin participated in 21 CBM wells in its Queensland permits during the Quarter. This included 15 development wells on the Spring Gully Project, two non operated appraisal wells on the Fairview field, two slimhole exploration wells in ATP 337P (Bandanna play) and one slimhole exploration well in ATP 663P (Walloons play).
On the downside the Perth Basin Tarantula-1 well, being drilled by Century Drilling's Rig 24 experienced a blow out leading to an uncontrolled gas flow on 10 June. The site was secured and water deluge equipment was deployed to ensure the gas stream did not ignite. In the process of securing the site four contractor personnel received scalding injuries from hot mud and required first aid treatment. Well control crews took 13 days to contain the flow.
In major development news for the company the Otway Joint Venture approved the program and budget for phase one of the Thylacine/Geographe field development (initially involving the Thylacine field only). Contracts were awarded in respect of the platform, subsea pipeline, shore crossing and gas plant.
Development drilling on the Yolla field also began in June although some delays are now being experienced with the electrical and instrumentation system connections at the onshore gas processing plant at Lang Lang.
Due to the setback it is likely that this work will not be completed by the end of September as planned, but will be completed early in the following quarter in readiness for acceptance of hydrocarbons from the offshore facilities.
