LNG

March 20 (LNGJ) - Oil Search, the Papua New Guinea LNG and oil and gas field stakeholder, said the people of PNG and its extensive energy facilities are slowly recovering from the impact of the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck the Highlands region on February 26. Oil Search said it had spent an initial US$5 million in cash and kind to address critical needs and has distributed relief supplies to more than 120,000 people in earthquake-affected areas. It is also bringing its oil and gas facilities back on stream. “Engineering teams, located both on and off site, have been systematically reviewing the wells, gathering systems, production facilities and other infrastructure,” said the company. “While the processing facilities have been largely undamaged, highlighting their resilience, remedial work is required to ensure the integrity and safety of our assets,” it added. The LNG plant is expected to be back on stream in April once the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant restarts operations.

Australian energy company Santos said that natural gas production at the Papua New Guinea LNG’s Hides gas conditioning plant and the Kutubu gas facilities in the PNG Highlands remained shut down as a precautionary measure, along with the liquefaction plant, following a major earthquake and a series of aftershocks.