Empire signs agreement for Rough Range oil

June 16, 2005
Empire Oil & Gas NL, Perth, signed a 5-year crude supply agreement with BP PLC's Kwinana, Western Australia, refinery for oil due on stream from historic Rough Range oil field.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, June 16 -- Empire Oil & Gas NL, Perth, signed a 5-year crude supply agreement with BP PLC's Kwinana, Western Australia, refinery for oil due on stream from historic Rough Range oil field.

The agreement calls for Empire to sell up to 1,000 b/d of waxy crude to the 158,500 b/d Kwinana facility, transported in the company's fleet of heated trucks from the field near Exmouth. Additional crude will be included if brought into production, officials said.

Pipes and two 800 bbl storage tanks will be insulated and heated to keep the waxy crude above its pour point temperature of 38° C.

Empire believes Rough Range field has the potential to produce as much as 2 million bbl of oil.

West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. discovered the field in 1953. A number of companies have since tried to prove up Rough Range without success. Empire says high oil prices and advanced technology made the project viable.