The Yolla Mid-Life Enhancement (MLE) Project will involve the installation of additional compression capacity, on-platform accommodation and additional safety features.

AWE Managing Director Bruce Wood said “The initial design of the BassGas Project incorporated the additional development drilling to maintain sales volumes and maximise gas recovery from the Yolla Field.”

Operator Origin will drill two development wells, Yolla-5 and Yolla-6, and install on-platform pumping and compression equipment to extend the production life of the Yolla Gas Field. These activities are expected to commence in late 2010, with the additional wells and accommodation facilities expected to be operational by mid-2011, and pumping and compression facilities by mid-2012.

Origin Executive General Manager Paul Zealand said “BassGas plays an important role in supplying gas to the Victorian market. Enhancing the offshore facilities represents the planned second phase of development for the Yolla gas field and a significant further investment in the BassGas asset."

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The currently unmanned Yolla A Platform will be converted to a normally manned platform through the installation of living quarters and a range of safety related systems and equipment.

A major scheduled maintenance has also commenced on the BassGas Project and it is expected that the facility will be offline until late February 2010.

The BassGas Project is a joint venture between Origin Energy, AWE and CalEnergy. The project currently provides gas, condensate and LPG from the Yolla Gas Field situated 147 kilometres off Victoria’s east coast. Upon completion, gas would be transported from the new platform via a pipeline to be processed onshore at Lang Lang.