US-based company Apache Energy Ltd said it will have a clearer picture over the coming days of the extent of the damage and the impact on gas supplies caused by an explosion at its Varanus Island gas plant.
Apache advised that the fire on the Island has now been extinguished and the incident area secured.
On Tuesday a pipeline ruptured at the Company's Varanus Island facility, approximately 116 kilometres west of Dampier in Western Australia, which has cut gas supplies from the plant.
Apache managing director Tim Wall yesterday visited the facility, and said the site was now secure, and the focus on analysis of the cause and impact of the incident, and repair of the facility.
"Yesterday we were able to fly to site with a team of specialist engineers and conduct an initial inspection of the damage," Mr Wall said.
"I am pleased to report that the incident has been contained and the site secure, and that the fires that were burning yesterday have been extinguished.
"We now have on site a highly skilled and capable team, including a specialist fire response team, who have commenced the forensic investigation and assessment.
"Our priorities now are to determine the cause of the incident, and to quickly and safely commence a repair program to minimise any downtime in the gas supply from the facility.
Mr Wall said Apache was working closely with Government and industry to keep them up to date on developments, and mitigate the impact on the gas supplies. The majority of Apache's gas is supplied to industrial customers.
The minister for energy, Francis Logan, will tomorrow visit the site with senior members of Apache for further assessments.
"We have been in ongoing communication with stakeholders such as partners, customers, the sate Government and other gas suppliers, to manage as best we can the disruption on gas supply," Mr Wall said.
"There has been a high level of understanding and cooperation, and I would like to thank all parties for their support in this process," Mr Wall said.
Mr Wall said all staff from Varanus Island, except those from the core response team, had now returned safely to Perth.
