Offshore staff
ADELAIDE, Australia – Santos has awarded Sapura Energy the FEED contract for the Dorado wellhead platform (WHP) in the Bedout sub-basin, offshore Western Australia.
The unmanned structure, with minimal processing facilities, will be in 90 m (295 ft) of water over the Dorado oil, condensate, and gas field.
It will host the production wells and gas reinjection wells, and will be remotely operated from an FPSO stationed around 2 km (1.2 mi) away. Sapura’s contract covers design, engineering, and installation of the platform.
Development drilling will be performed by a jackup after the WHP has been installed, with drilling planned for 2024 and 2025.
Dorado will likely have an initial gross liquids production rate of 75,000-100,000 b/d, with first production targeted for 2026.
Under the first-phase development, gas will be reinjected to enhance oil and condensate recovery. Santos plans a subsequent phase of gas production to backfill requirements of its domestic gas infrastructure in Western Australia.
Dorado is a low-CO2 reservoir with around 1.5% CO2 content anticipated during first-phase production.
Santos Managing Director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said the design of the WHP “allows for the integrated development of both the gas and liquids resource and retains sufficient flexibility to support future exploration success, with the Pavo and Apus prospects to be drilled early next year.
“Whilst operating unmanned, the WHP will have several innovative features including sophisticated reservoir performance monitoring functionality to facilitate optimal reservoir recovery.”
Santos has an 80% interest in the Dorado project, the remainder held by Carnarvon Petroleum.
08/26/2021
