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Australia takes over stranded FPSO
PROJECTS & COMPANIES
THE Australian government has temporarily taken control of a stranded oating production, storage and o oading (FPSO) vessel in the west- ern Timor Sea.
Australian Resources Minister Keith Pitt said on February 14 that his o ce had set up a temporary operations programme to support the Northern Endeavour FPSO, which has been manned by a skeleton crew since November 2019. e FPSO is moored between the Lam- inaria and Corallina oilfields in production licences WA-18-L and AC/L5.
Northern Endeavour’s operator, Northern Oil & Gas Australia (NOGA), entered voluntary administration in September 2019. KPMG was appointed as NOGA’s administrator.
NOGA’s liquidation followed o shore reg- ulator National O shore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority’s (NOP- SEMA) decision to close the FPSO a er it found corrosion at the facility during an inspection. e regulator said there were major concerns over the technical integrity of the FPSO’s critical structures and equipment.
Pitt’s plan for the Northern Endeavour involves maintaining a minimum safe operating crew, while production is suspended. Any required operational activities will also be carried out.
“It is essential that we ensure the protection of the environment around the Laminaria-Cor- allina project in the Timor Sea and maintain the world-recognised reputation of our oil and gas industry, as well as the e ectiveness of our inde- pendent regulators,” Pitt said. “My department is in active negotiations with quali ed companies with a view to engaging an experienced, reliable operator with the necessary support services. I expect initial negotiations to be concluded in [the] coming days.”
He added: “It is vital that Australia’s oil and gas sector’s strong reputation for environmental safety and security is maintained.”
NOGA bought 100% of WA-18-L and AC/ L5, along with the 170,000 barrel per day (bpd) FPSO, from Woodside in April 2016. Laminaria and Corallina are located in the northern Bona- parte Basin, around 550 km north-west of Dar- win, in 400 metres of water.™
Image: NOPSEMA
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w w w. N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 07 19•February•2020