Tap said that while production is currently at a limited rate, it is expected to ramp up over the next two weeks.

The 5000-barrel-per-day field has been offline since early January, while operator Eni addressed problems experienced during an emergency shutdown of equipment aboard the Four Vanguard floating production storage and offloading vessel in response to a cyclone in northwest Australia.

Production was initially due to resume in March but limited support vessel availability and the arrival of Cyclone Ophelia in the region made this impossible.

Output at the field is expected to increase to about 12,000bpd when the successful Woollybutt South development well, Woollybut-4H, is tied back in late May

Stakeholders in the Woollybutt oil field, in WA-25-L, are Eni Australia (operator - 65%), Mobil Australia (20%), and Tap Oil (15%).