Business
Austral Pacific Operations Update
Austral Pacific Operations Update.
About this update from Apex Resources Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nWELLINGTON, New Zealand, Nov. 1 /CNW/ -- Austral Pacific Energy Ltd.\n(TSX-V: APX; NZSX: APX; Amex: AEN)\n\n\nAustral Pacific Energy Ltd., as operator of the Cheal oil field announced\ntoday that the Cheal-A3X production well located at the main Cheal "A" site\nhas been temporarily shut-in due to mechanical problems. Preliminary\ninvestigation work has indicated that pressure and fluid loss was caused by a\nleak in the production casing.\n\n\nThe company has immediately instigated a review of remedial options for\nthe well, and at this stage it is planned that a temporary solution will be in\nplace by the second week of November, with the well brought back into\nproduction at a reduced flow rate at that time.\n\n\nA plan for a permanent solution has been put in place and the Company is\nmoving to secure the appropriate workover rig and personnel to implement this\nplan. It is expected to take approximately four weeks to assemble the\nequipment and complete the repair work. The Company expects to have final\nrepairs completed and the well returned to full production by mid to late\nDecember, 2007.\n\n\nCommenting on shut-in, Mr. Thompson Jewell, President and CEO said,\n"Everyone understands that mechanical problems of the sort we are experiencing\nare part of the business. However, I am very confident that our technical\nteam will have the A3X well back in production with a minimum of downtime and\nlost production."\n\n\nThe Company also wishes to announce that the planned tie in of the B1, B2\nand B3 wells into the Cheal Production Station is progressing according to\nschedule. The wells, which are located at the satellite "B" site, were\nshut-in as part of the planned, phased installation of the permanent\nconnections to the production facility. Despite extremely poor weather\nconditions, testing of critical equipment such as switchboards and control\nsystems commenced ahead of plan and as a result the B wells are on schedule to\nbe returned to full production via the Production Station by December 15,\n2007.\n\n\nMr. Jewell said: "I am very happy with the progress of the tie-ins at the\n"B" site. With these wells tied in we will be moving closer to getting the\nfield up to our planned long-term production rates. The project is a\nrelatively complex operation, and has drawn ...