Oil Search restarts Papua New Guinea CPF

The Papua New Guinea-focused oil and gas producer and PNG LNG stakeholder, Oil Search, said operations at the central processing facility have resumed following the February shut in. 

The operations at the plant were halted after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Papua New Guinea Highlands.

Oil production has commenced from a number of Kutubu oil field wells at an initial rate of approximately 4,000 barrels of oil per day.

This follows a detailed assessment of all Oil Search-operated infrastructure, including the processing equipment, storage tanks and flowlines at the CPF, and minor remedial work to ensure the facility’s integrity. Now that the CPF is operational, oil production from the Kutubu complex fields is expected to be brought back online progressively during April.

The Oil Search-operated condensate handling facilities at the CPF and liquids export pipeline, which are integral to the operation of the PNG LNG project, are also ready to receive, store and export condensate once the project recommences gas production.

Rehabilitation work to restore the Oil Search-operated Ridge camp, to support the return of production personnel to the central processing and Agogo facilities, remains ongoing.

Revised 2018 guidance for production as well as operating and capital costs will be provided when Oil Search reports its 2018 first quarter results on 17 April.