LNG vessel departs Australia Pacific LNG terminal

Australia’s Origin Energy announced on December 1 that the LNG vessel that had lost power and was unable to leave the Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) facility on Curtis Island has now departed.

The vessel lost power on November 28, causing a disruption to LNG deliveries. Origin said it has commenced an operation to move the vessel to safe anchorage so further repairs could be undertaken by the ship’s owner. The operation was led by Gladstone Ports and Marine Safety Queensland in conjunction with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Downstream operator of APLNG, ConocoPhillips, is now working to return the LNG facility to normal operations which will allow cargoes to recommence loading overnight, Origin said. Origin, as the upstream operator, will start ramping up production to return the flow of gas to the LNG facility to normal levels. In total, three LNG cargoes were unable to be loaded during this event.

APLNG, a joint venture comprising Origin, ConocoPhillips, and China's Sinopec, is Australia's largest producer of coalbed methane (CBM) and supplies gas to Queensland's domestic gas market, while also processing CBM into LNG for exports.