Reuters is reporting that Exxon Mobil Corp is still assessing damage to its natural gas processing plant in Papua New Guinea, damaged by a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake last month.
The quake struck near Exxon’s Hides facility on 25 Feb, halting production and causing the deaths of dozens of people. Power infrastructure sustained damage and the Komo jungle airfield was closed, dramatically restricting access to the remote facility.
Multiple aftershocks in addition to the remoteness of the gas field and processing plant, have made it difficult to assess and repair any damage. It is unclear when production and exports can resume.
“We’re doing a full assessment right now...We had a few aftershocks so you have to go through the assessments again up in the mountains to recheck the facilities,” said Neil Duffin, President of ExxonMobil’s production company.
Prior to the shutdown, Exxon’s PNG LNG export project, had been producing at about 20% above its nominal capacity of 6.9 million tpy.