The company said that it announced a precautionary measure to suspend drilling operations following notification from drilling fluid supplier, Australian Mud, on 13 March, 2014.
A notification noted that the additive called NUTPLUG, sometimes used in drilling has been recently found to contain asbestos.
To ensure drilling rigs either have no traces of asbestos or have been verified as safe and cleared to resume operations, Origin is diligently working through a comprehensive and systematic process of airborne and surface testing.
Five of the previously suspended drilling rigs have been tested and returned to work, while the remaining seven rigs are expected to return to service within few days, according to Origin.
