Canada-based oil and gas company Valeura Energy has announced the temporary halt of production at its Wassana oil field project in the Gulf of Thailand. The decision comes after an incident involving the floating storage and offloading vessel (FSO) stationed at the field, which deviated from its intended position and made contact with the field's catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoy.

While no injuries, hydrocarbon discharge, or damage to the vessel or CALM buoy were reported, Valeura Energy has taken the precautionary measure of suspending production operations at the field. At the time of the incident, the Wassana field was producing approximately 2,400 barrels per day (bbls/d) of oil, accounting for around 10% of Valeura's total net production.

The company is now conducting a thorough review of safety and operating practices related to the third-party operated FSO before resuming production. Valeura emphasizes its commitment to high environmental, social, and governance standards and holds its third-party contractors to the same expectations.

The Wassana field's processing facilities received crude oil for the first time in nearly three years at the end of April 2023, following its suspension in May 2020 by the previous operator. Valeura acquired KrisEnergy International in June 2022, which granted the company an operated interest in two shallow water offshore licenses in the Gulf of Thailand: Licence G10/48, including the Wassana oil field, and Licence G6/48, including the Rossukon oil field. The re-certification of the Wassana field's MOPU Ingenium, which extended the facility's life, was completed last year.

Valeura aims to increase production rates to 4,500 bbls/d through a planned five-well infill drilling program scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2023. The company has recently chartered the PV Drilling 1 jack-up drilling rig and is currently involved in planning and procurement for the 2023 drilling campaign. Additional details regarding the incident and the safety review will be provided in due course.