Typhoon Laurence Hits Cat 5 As Rigs NW Of Australia Evacuate Crews - Landfall Likely Today (12/16)

[hatrack]

Players operating in Laurence's path off Western Australia's Kimberley region have already evacuated installations and shut in output ahead of the cyclone's arrival.

“Laurence is a small but very intense tropical cyclone having very destructive winds,” the bureau said. “Daily rainfall totals in excess of 100 millimetres are possible near the coast with totals decreasing further inland.”

Laurence's eye is expected to make landfall today, north of Derby.

Karoon Gas, ConocoPhillips’ partner in an exploration venture in the region, suspended drilling operations yesterday. Thailand’s PTT Exploration & Production has evacuated workers from the Jabiru and Challis fields and shut production. Crew working on the crippled Montara wellhead platform were evacuated over the weekend.

EDIT

http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article201785.ece

[Delphinus]

1. That's one heck of a storm! n/t