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    1. Geosciences

    Carnarvon assessing tiebacks to Dorado oil facilities offshore Australia

    Sept. 17, 2020
    Carnarvon Petroleum has issued an update on interpretation of the new Keraudren 3D seismic on various prospects close to the Dorado oil field development in the Sub-Bedout basin offshore Western Australia.
    (Courtesy Carnarvon Petroleum)
    Keraudren 3D seismic at top Caley interval from Roc to Dorado to Apus.
    Keraudren 3D seismic at top Caley interval from Roc to Dorado to Apus.

    Offshore staff

    WEST PERTH, Australia – Carnarvon Petroleum has issued an update on interpretation of the new Keraudren 3D seismic on various prospects close to the Dorado oil field development in the Sub-Bedout basin offshore Western Australia.

    The focus is on the Apus, Petrus and Kepler prospects, all previously covered by the Bilby 2D data.  Analysis with the new 3D data suggests the primary reservoirs are similar to those that have proven productive in Dorado, with further prospectivity interpreted in the untested Dumont member.

    Carnarvon estimates resources at Apus, Petrus and Kepler prospects at respectively 235 MM, 46 MM and 12 MMbbl of oil, plus associated gas.

    (Courtesy Carnarvon Petroleum)
    Location of the Apus, Petrus, and Kepler structures in relation to Dorado.
    Location of the Apus, Petrus, and Kepler structures in relation to Dorado.

    Managing director and CEO Adrian Cook said: “The Apus structure has both targets that may result in new standalone fields or that maybe tied into the planned Dorado oil field facility. Options for exploration drilling are being advanced, recognizing that a decision to commit to a drilling rig will be subject to an assessment of business conditions at the time.”

    Apus is in a water depth of around 75 m (246 ft), with a depth to the top of the reservoir of less than 2,500 m (8,202 ft). According to the company, this is significant as reservoir properties generally improve at shallower depths: with proven deliverability of equivalent reservoirs at Dorado, 2,000 m (6,562 ft) deeper, reservoir quality does not appear to be a risk at Apus.

    An upside discovery at Apus could support a standalone development, or a tieback to Dorado, extending the maximum liquids rate plateau of the production facilities. And the shallow target suggests there is likely a higher ratio of liquids (relative to gas) compared with Dorado.

    Petrus and Kepler are in 85 m (279 ft) water depths and can therefore be drilled using a lower-cost jackup type rig. They are respectively 14 and 18 km (8.7 and 11.2 mi) east of the proposed development location at Dorado field.

    The FPSO and wellhead platform designs under development for Dorado allow for tiebacks of future discoveries. Carnarvon is also assessing Pavo and other newly identified prospects close to the proposed development.

    09/17/2020