Subsea damage leaves Galoc unplugged

Australia’s Otto Energy has confirmed that production at the Galoc project off the Philippines will be delayed until late next month due to damage to the oilfield’s subsea production system.

Otto said in a statement that part of the detachable mooring and riser system had been damaged when the field’s floating production, storage and offloading vessel Rubicon Intrepid had disconnected earlier this month. Otto said the vessel had been disconnected from the field “due to a combination of events including adverse weather conditions”. Tropical Cyclone Billy passed through the area earlier this month. However, the company had said at the time it had lined up a remotely operated vehicle to inspect the subsea equipment while the FPSO was disconnected. Otto said a subsea survey by the floater’s owner, Rubicon Offshore International, had found a “partially detached” component that would need to be repaired before production can recommence. It said the Rubicon Maverick would sail from Singapore to undertake the work and was expected to start the remedial work by early next month, The Galoc field lies on Service Contract 14C off the west coast of the Philippines’ Palawan Island. Otto operates the Galoc project with a 31.38% interest in the Galoc Production Company (GPC) and a 58.29% working interest in the SC14C licence.

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