By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 17 -- BHP Billiton Ltd. and its joint venture partner Esso Australia Resources Pty. Ltd. reported the start-up of the newly constructed Bream natural gas pipeline in the Bass Strait. The line, construction on which began in January, is the fourth gas pipeline extending from the existing Bream A offshore platform into the JV's Gippsland production network at the Longford processing facilities, the companies said.
The 51 km, 14-in. line, which cost $200 million (Aus.) to build, runs 46 km offshore from the Bream A platform, across the Gippsland coast, then extends 5 km onshore to Longford. The line can transport as much as 200 MMscfd of gas.
"The new Bream pipeline will now allow the production of these gas reserves at a time when demand for Bass Strait gas is increasing," said Terry White, vice-president, Bass Strait. "Gippsland gas from Bass Strait now supplies Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, and from 2004 will flow into South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory," he said.
Before now, all gas from Bream oil and gas field reservoir has been re-injected into the reservoir. Bream, which was discovered in 1969, has been producing oil since 1988.