MONTARA

• Latitude: -12.6597
• Longitude: 124.546
• North Australia
• Offshore Terminal in Australia

Address: Australia

Offshore Terminal: Montara

Location:
Montara is situated in the Timor Sea, approximately 690 kilometers west of Darwin in Northern Territory, Australia, and about 250 kilometers northwest of the Kimberley coastline. This region is known for its rich hydrocarbon reserves and is a significant site for offshore oil and gas exploration and production.

Description: The Montara Offshore Terminal is a significant facility designed for the extraction, processing, storage, and export of oil and gas products. It primarily involves:

• Production Facilities: These include platforms or floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units which are crucial for the extraction and initial processing of hydrocarbons. These facilities separate oil, gas, and water and prepare the crude oil for storage and export.

• Oil Storage: Large storage tanks or FPSO units allow for the temporary storage of crude oil before it is offloaded to tankers for export.

• Export Infrastructure: Specialized mooring systems, pipelines, and offloading points to facilitate the efficient transfer of oil to tankers.

Montara has been a focal point of interest due to past incidents, notably the oil spill in 2009, which brought significant attention to safety measures and environmental precautions in offshore drilling operations.

Specifications:

1. Operator:

   • As of the last update, the facility is managed by Jadestone Energy, following the acquisition of assets from PTTEP Australasia.

2. Field Type:

   • Offshore oil and gas field with facilities for both oil extraction and gas processing.

3. Water Depth:

   • The Montara field is located in relatively shallow waters of the Timor Sea, with depths typically ranging around 80 meters.

4. Facilities:

   • The Montara field includes multiple components:
     • Wellhead Platform (WHP): Used for extracting oil and associated gas from the reservoir.
     • FPSO (Montara Venture): A floating production storage and offloading unit used to process and store extracted hydrocarbons before offloading to tankers. It includes topside facilities for oil separation, dehydration, and gas compression.
     • Subsea Infrastructure: Includes pipelines and risers connecting the wellhead platform to the FPSO and other facilities as needed.

5. Production Capacity:

   • The production capacity can vary, but the FPSO Montara Venture is designed to handle a specific rate of barrels of oil per day (bopd). For a precise rate, detailed technical documentation from the operator would be required.

6. Safety and Environmental Considerations:

   • Post the 2009 incident, there have been rigorous safety and environmental protocols put in place. These include enhanced monitoring of operations, regular maintenance schedules, and emergency response plans to mitigate the impact of any potential spills or accidents.

7. Export Mechanism:

   • Crude oil is typically stored in the FPSO's tanks and periodically offloaded to shuttle tankers via a floating hose or export pipeline system. These tankers then transport the oil to refineries or global markets.

The Montara Offshore Terminal stands as a vital node in Australia's offshore oil and gas industry, underscoring the importance of safety, efficiency, and environmental stewardship in oceanic resource extraction.