Repair and testing of Sole pipeline complete, Cooper says

Cooper Energy has said that the offshore activities to undertake the repair and testing of the Sole subsea pipeline offshore Australia have been completed.

Umbilical lay vessel Skandi Acergy on location offshore Orbost at the site of the bell-mouth for the horizontally-directionally drilled control umbilical connection to the Orbost Gas Plant. The plant is visible in the background. Source: Cooper Energy

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

The field is poised to become south-east Australia’s newest source of gas supply when it starts production on completion of the Orbost Gas Plant upgrade currently being undertaken by APA Group.

The offshore component of the Sole Gas Project is forecast to be within the budget cost of $355 million, Cooper said on Monday announcing the completion of pipeline repair and testing activities.

Cooper Energy completed the construction of the offshore development of the Sole gas field in March 2019.

The repairs on the damaged pipe section, which was discovered in November last year by Cooper’s subsea contractor Subsea 7, started with the arrival of the construction and dive vessel in mid-May. The operation was managed by Subsea 7.

Cooper added on Monday that the work on the onshore element of the project by APA to upgrade the Orbost Gas Plant to process gas from Sole is advancing. APA has advised Cooper Energy that the plant will be ready to receive and process the first Sole gas in the September quarter 2019.

“APA and Cooper Energy continue to work closely to ensure the safe and reliable completion of the Sole Gas Project,” Cooper concluded.

In related news, Cooper Energy in early June signed new gas supply agreements with AGL Energy from its Sole (Gippsland Basin) and Casino Henry (Otway Basin) gas operations, located offshore Australia.

Offshore Energy Today Staff


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