Oil, gas production unaffected by spread of Covid-19, says Oil Search

OIL and gas production in Papua New Guinea has been unaffected by the spread of the Covid-19 says Oil Search, which has a 29 per cent stake in the PNG LNG venture and operates oil and gas fields.
The increasing number of Covid-19 cases in PNG prompted Oil Search to further strengthen efforts to protect its people and maintain safe and reliable operations at its operated fields, the Sydney-based firm said.
Having spent much of 2020 with relatively low levels of coronavirus infection rates, the nation experienced a spike in infections that, if maintained, could challenge the country’s relatively poor healthcare system.
“Covid-19 is a growing threat to the people of Papua New Guinea,” Oil Search managing director Keiran Wulff said.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that our employees can continue to work safely.”
He said Oil Search had contacted the Australian government for assistance through the Australian department of foreign affairs and trade.
The Queensland state government was working with Canberra to send Australian healthcare workers to PNG to assist with the country’s coronavirus outbreak.
Oil Search has reduced its Port Moresby office to a core team of medical, security and facility personnel, with daily testing conducted on employees, the firm said.
Oil Search said that it expected LNG output from the ExxonMobil-operated PNG LNG venture to decline in 2021 from the record 8.8 million tonnes produced in 2020, with the facility expected to undertake maintenance at trains one and two this year. – argusmediacom