Tap Oil has been forced to temporarily suspend production at its Woollybutt Field after problems with emergency shut down equipment aboard the Four Vanguard Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel were discovered.
The Woollybutt Field is located 40 kilometres west of Barrow Island, off the coast of WA and produces 750 barrels of oil per day.
Tap said the shut down would have a limited impact on Tap's budgeted annual production performance, which includes allowances for unplanned shutdowns.
It said the shutdown had no impact on the total reserves of Woollybutt and that Tap's other producing asset, the Harriet joint-venture, was performing well.
Tap said production at Woollybutt was expected to recommence in late January.
Tap said problems with emergency shut down equipment aboard the Four Vanguard FPSO were identified following a normal operational shut down and re-start for a recent cyclone.
"The operator immediately halted production and commenced to rectify the emergency shutdown system," Tap said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange today.
Tap shares closed 4 cents higher to $1.94.
