Cooper expects to repair Sole pipeline in April next year

Subsea 7, Cooper Energy’s subsea contractor for the Sole project in Australia, is preparing to repair the damaged section of the pipeline in April 2019 after detecting an anomaly last month.

Cooper’s Sole gas field is located in the eastern part of the Gippsland Basin, approximately 40km offshore Victoria, Australia.

Subsea 7, Cooper’s pipeline installation contractor, recently completed laying of the 65 km pipeline to link the Sole production wells offshore Victoria to the Orbost Gas Plant. The pipeline has been laid on the seabed, is unconnected to the gas fields and not carrying hydrocarbons.

However, last month, Subsea 7 reported to Cooper it had identified an anomaly in the form of a through wall thickness opening at one location in the pipeline during the performance of pipeline acceptance pressure testing (hydrotest).

On Tuesday, December 11 Cooper said that the pipeline installation contractor had removed a section of pipeline which contained the damage from the sea floor and successfully completed a hydrotest of the 65 km pipeline from the Orbost Gas Plant to the Sole wells.

The hydrotest was conducted over a 24-hour hold period and has confirmed the capability of the pipeline to retain the required pressure and is an important step in preparing the pipeline for a permanent repair.

The contractor is preparing to repair the damaged section of pipe within April 2019, subject to regulatory approvals.

Cooper reiterated that the Sole Gas Project remains within budget and on schedule for first commercial gas production in July 2019 as previously advised.

Offshore Energy Today Staff