Cooper’s Oz Sole Gas Project Hit by Bad Weather
Inclement weather conditions have caused Cooper Energy to suspend operations at its Sole gas field in Australia’s Gippsland Basin for an expected three to five days, which follows a recent delay of a week, the company said June 15.
“Cooper Energy advises the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast weather conditions outside operating limits for the forthcoming weekend. In such conditions safe operations of the Sole flow back cannot be assured and therefore preparations for the flow back have been suspended until the weather forecast improves,” it said.
Cooper announced the spudding of its first well at the Sole Gas Project on May 2. The well, Sole-3, is the first of two production wells to be drilled by the Ocean Monarch on the field as part of the A$605mn ($451mn) project, which is developing new supply for the tight south-east Australian market.
The suspension follows Cooper on June 12 saying Sole-3 is expected to be ready for flow back within five-to-seven days – approximately one week later than previously anticipated due to operational issues associated with a downhole service tool.
When initially announcing it had spudded the first well at May 2, Cooper said it was expecting the work programme at Sole-3 – which includes drilling, installation of a subsea production tree, an open hole gravel pack completion and clean up flow testing – to take approximately 30 days.
Cooper, which holds 100% equity in the Sole gas field, is undertaking the A$355mn offshore development, while APA Group is conducting a A$250mn upgrade to the onshore Orbost Gas Processing Plant to enable processing of gas from sole.
The field is being developed to supply about 24 PJ of gas per year from mid-2019, with about 75% of the field’s reserves contracted to a range of utility and industrial customers including AGL Energy, EnergyAustralia, Alinta Energy and O-I.
Once Sole-3 is completed it will be followed immediately by work on Sole-4 which is similar in design, accessing a different part of the same reservoir.