Oz Cooper, APA Restart Orbost Commissioning Work

Sydney-listed Cooper Energy May 22 said gas infrastructure company APA Group has resumed commissioning of Orbost gas processing plant following a shutdown which was announced earlier this month.

“The shutdown work programme was completed in full and plant operations resumed on 20 May 2020. Supply of Sole gas into the Eastern Gas Pipeline recommenced at approximately 8 pm on that day,” Cooper said. The gas plant is owned and operated by APA Group.

Earlier this month, Cooper said the Orbost plant in Victoria is close to being commissioned but the rates achieved are yet to meet the 68 terajoules/day (64mn ft3/day) required by the plant production test. The company decided to investigate and analyse aspects of plant performance. This work included a shutdown of the gas plant from May 9 to permit inspection, conduct maintenance and complete minor modifications within the sulphur recovery unit, Cooper said.

Cooper reported a stable production at 28 terajoules/day after 36 hours of operation post shutdown. “Ongoing commissioning plans are to achieve a progressive, sustained increase in output rates whilst maintaining stable plant operation,” the company said.

The gas plant is being commissioned to process gas from Cooper’s Sole gas field offshore Victoria for supply to customers in south-east Australia. Completion of plant commissioning will enable the start of the field’s term supply contracts and processing tariff payments by Cooper to APA Group. A total of 0.8 petajoules of gas from Sole has been processed and supplied into the Eastern Gas Pipeline up to May 21, Cooper said.