Development studies have started for the Who Dat East and Who Dat South discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to partner Karoon Energy, the joint venture aims to take a final investment decision (FID) on at least one of these projects by early 2026.

Current activity includes assessment of options for subsea tiebacks of one or both of the accumulations to Who Dat OptiEx platform—depending on the results of current debottlenecking and reliability studies, which are due to finish by mid-year—or alternatively, to third-party processing facilities.

The latest exploration well in the area, Who Dat West well MC 629-1, was plugged and abandoned earlier this year after failing to detect significant hydrocarbon-bearing intervals. 

In the Santos Basin offshore Brazil, Karoon operates the S-M-1037 and S-M-1101 blocks with a 100% interest.

Here, the project team for the Neon Field development has completed Decision Gate 2 Concept Select work. After assessing different options, a standalone development using a redeployed FPSO appears to be the optimal solution, and potential production facilities are under review.

In the present first stage of a three-stage Define process, the program will include FPSO and surface facility FEED work, optimizing the phasing of development drilling, and various surveys.

Karoon aims to bring in a partner as a prerequisite to FID. Progression into the later Define stages will depend on the success of the farm-down, technical and commercial progress, and market conditions.