Thai energy company PTTEP has started production from the Montara field offshore Western Australia in the Timor Sea where, in 2009, the West Atlas jack-up rig owned by SeaDrill was badly damaged by fire. It was later retrieved and towed to Singapore.
Oil production at the Montara field is projected to ramp up to 21,000 barrels per day (bpd) initially. It will later rise to about 30,000 bpd, subject to completion of one additional development well scheduled to be drilled later this year.