False emergency shuts down Maui platform

The owners of the Maui gas field have notified the market that the Maui A Platform has shut down for the third time in a week.

The company said it appeared a false sensor reading in the fire and gas detection system had prompted an emergency shutdown at 5.15am, resulting in a break in the gas supply.

Maui's owners, the Maui Joint Venture, said the starting up process was an exended one and back-up power generation supplies were still under repair as a result of the previous two shutdowns.

It hoped to commission an auxiliary power generator by mid-afternoon today.

The Maui Joint Venture consists of Shell New Zealand (77.5 per cent ownership), Todd Petroleum Mining (12.5 per cent) and OMV (10 per cent).

- NZPA