Offshore staff
HOUSTON -- Apache Energy Ltd. says that the fire on Varanus Island has been extinguished and the incident area secured.
Apache Energy's managing director Tim Wall and the Western Australia Minister for Energy Hon. Francis Logan conducted a visit and inspection of Apache's Varanus Island gas facilities which were damaged in a pipeline rupture and fire on June 3.
"Our specialist team of engineers, including assessment and recovery experts have made an initial assessment that partial restoration of gas supply is likely to take a couple of months," Wall said.
The incident has caused visible damage to piping infrastructure and to some supporting equipment, and the engineering team is working to determine the full extent of damage, he said, adding some of the materials required to restore the facility are not off-the-shelf items.
"We will be ensuring this restoration process will not take a minute longer than is required," Wall said.
Varanus Island is located approximately 116 km (72 mi) west of Dampier on Australia's Northwest Shelf.
06/09/2008
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