BOTH the listed Gas2Grid and the private Timor Resources, a subsidiary of engineering firm Nepean, have reported drilling delays as equipment is stuck in limbo due to coronavirus COVID19 outbreaks. 

Timor Resources, which plans the spud Timor-Leste's first onshore wells in four decades, has had to push back the date from May 1 to somewhere between May 22 and June1.  

Managing director Suellen Osborne told Energy News via email yesterday that as factories in China were closed for 21 days the ports have a backlog of cargo to move.  

"Covid19 has caused havoc on supply chains. We have purchased our wellheads and casings from Petroil in Tianjin and this was purchased in September 2018. 

"We have struggled to secure trucks and now we have seen two vessels cancelled as they are not travelling to Dili. The majority of our long leads items are ex-China," she told Energy News.  

"We have again booked our cargo, casing and well heads on the next ship, our rig comes onshore Timor in the next four days."  

She said all equipment had been sent on breakbulk cargo to Kupang and will be trans-shipped to a private barge then sent to Suai on the south coast close to where Timor Resources plans its ten-well campaign.  

Well casing is currently sitting at a port in Tianjin waiting for a ship.  

Timor is hunting for oil on the south coast, home to several historic wells and some oil seeps and plans an eventual 1-well campaign , with five wells this year in one permit it operates under a production sharing contract arrangement with the Dili government and five more in its other permit in early 2021.  

Wells Karau, Kumbilli, Laisaipi, Lafaek and Raiketin will be drilled in Permit A this year. 

The company has two onshore permits in the south close to Suai where the nation plans to eventually develop an LNG export terminal to commercialise gas from its Greater Sunrise fields. 

Meanwhile ASX-listed smallcap Gas2Grid warned shareholders late yesterday its activities across the Philippines could face significant delays due to restrictions in movement and equipment availability following outbreaks of the coronavirus COVID-19. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin

Read more here