Oil Search Examines PNG Quake Damage

Oil Search expects it to take at least a week to review its operations in Papua New Guinea following an earthquake which hit the country in the early hours of Monday, the company said February 27.

“A review of Oil Search-operated wells, gathering systems, production facilities and other infrastructure is now underway, to establish whether there was been any material damage and what, if any, remedial work is required to ensure the integrity and safety of our assets,” the company said.

“This work, together with initial rehabilitation activities on our camps, infrastructure and facilities, is expected to take at least a week. Further analysis over this time will provide us with relevant information to determine when we will be able to resume safe production operations,” it said.

The company added that it will work closely with the PNG LNG project operator in coordinating these activities.

All Oil Search’s staff and contractors, located at more than 20 operating sites, have been accounted for with no reports of serious injuries, it said. It has commenced demobilising all “non-essential” personnel to Port Moresby due to damage at a number of the camps.

PNG LNG is operated by ExxonMobil (33.2%), with Santos (13.5%), National Petroleum Company of PNG (16.8%), JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration Company (4.7%), Mineral Resources Development (2.8%), and Oil Search (29%) holding interests in the project.

Oil Search operates all of PNG’s producing oil fields, holds an extensive appraisal and exploration portfolio, and has significant interests in a number of major undeveloped gas fields, including the Elk-Antelope fields in PRL 15, operated by Total, and in P’nyang in PRL 3, operated by ExxonMobil. “We will keep the market advised of any material updates,” Oil Search said.