Offshore staff
ADELAIDE, Australia – Santos’ Barossa gas and condensate project in the Timor Sea, designed to backfill the Darwin LNG complex, is 56% complete.
The FPSO hull blocks are in the drydock for assembly, and construction of the FPSO topsides is on schedule. Fabrication of subsea hardware and planning of the gas pipeline and subsea campaigns are progressing.
However, development drilling operations remain suspended with the rig on standby off the coast of Darwin as Santos works on the approvals needed for drilling to resume. If these come through, activities could restart before the end of the year.
In addition, the company is implementing the requirements of a General Direction from the regulator to further assess First Nations underwater cultural heritage issues along the pipeline route.
Assuming drilling does restart and the gas export pipeline is installed in 2023, the project could deliver first gas during the first half 2025 and within current cost guidance.
CCS updates
Santos expects gas and liquids production from the nearby Bayu-Undan Field to cease for good around mid-2023. In parallel, FEED work is nearing completion on conversion of the facilities for the Bayu-Undan CCS (carbon capture and storage) project.
FEED scopes fulfilled to date include the design of the offshore platform topsides CCS equipment. Engagement continues with the Timor-Leste and Australian governments on regulatory and commercial frameworks.
Offshore Western Australia there has been reduced capacity from the Reindeer Field due to rising water production, and operations will likely end later this year or early in 2024.
Here, too, Santos is assessing opportunities to capture CO2 emitted by local industries for storage in Reindeer’s depleted reservoirs. The company has held talks with certain large emitters to support concept development.
Finally, the offshore Spartan development remains on track for first production in the current quarter.
04.20.2023
