Origin Restarts APLNG Drilling Ops

Origin Energy, operator of the Australia Pacific LNG project, announced a phased restart of previously suspended drilling operations.

On 13 March Origin announced a precautionary measure to suspend drilling operations following notification from drilling fluid supplier, Australian Mud Company, that the additive known as NUTPLUG, sometimes used in drilling was recently found to contain asbestos.

“Origin is diligently working through a comprehensive and systematic process of airborne and surface testing to ensure drilling rigs either have no traces of asbestos or have been verified as safe and cleared to resume operations,” the company said in a statement.

“As a result, five of the previously suspended drilling rigs have been tested and returned to work. The remaining seven rigs are expected to progressively return to service over the coming days,” the company added.

[mappress]
LNG World News Staff, March 19, 2014; Image: Origin