Apache may be to blame for explosion

Apache Energy Limited's pipeline explosion which drastically cut Western Australia's gas supply, may have committed offences under two pipeline acts a new report says.

The gas facility on the northwest shelf island of Varanus exploded on June 3, cutting about 30 per cent of WA's domestic gas supplies.

A report by the National Off Shore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOSPA) released on Friday said the explosion was caused by ineffective anti-corrosion coating across a section of the gas pipeline, ineffective protection of a transition zone of the beach section of the pipeline and ineffective inspection and monitoring of the pipeline by Apache Energy.

WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said he would wait to see Senate inquiry findings before committing to any further investigations.

Mr Moore said the former WA government had failed to run a parallel inquiry looking at the effect of the explosion on the economy and whether the regulators NOPSA and the WA Department of Industry and Resources had fulfilled their roles.

"It seems as though the regulators haven't been doing their job," Mr Moore said.

The Senate inquiry report is due next month.

Author: Jo Amey