Offshore staff
PERTH, Australia – Woodside Energy expects to produce first oil later this year from its Shenzi North development in the US Gulf of Mexico (GoM), ahead of schedule, the company said in its latest results statement.
This is a two-well subsea tieback to the Shenzi TLP. Subsea activities continue with one of the three campaigns complete, installing manifolds and high-integrity pressure protection system equipment.
Elsewhere in the sector, production continues to ramp up at the Argos platform, part of the bp-operated Mad Dog Phase 2 development on the southern flank of the Mad Dog Field, which started up in April.
A successful appraisal well, SWX4, has since been drilled in the south-west part of the field and an additional multi-well tie-back to Argos is now under review.
This year Woodside has expanded its position in the US GoM, acquiring five leases (four operated and one non-operated) in lease sale 259, and a 44% interest in two leases in Green Canyon. It is also a partner to bp in the Spinel exploration well that spudded in early June.
In the Mexican sector, 30 km south of the US maritime median line, planning continues for the deepwater Trion Field oil project, involving a semisubmersible FPU (awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industries) capable of producing and transferring 100,000 b/d of oil to a FSO vessel, with excess gas transferred to existing offshore gas export infrastructure.
Long-lead items have been ordered for topsides rotating equipment. The company has since awarded a rig contract and the FPU and FSO installation contract.
Following the Trion Joint Venture’s approval in June, they have since submitted their plan to Mexico’s regulator: Woodside is targeting first oil in 2028.
In the Caribbean Sea the company operates the Calypso development comprising numerous gas discoveries in two blocks 220 km from the coast of Trinidad in 2,100 m water depth, close to existing infrastructure.
Conceptual studies have finished concerning selection of an infield host facility as the preferred development concept. Pre-FEED engineering to mature concept definition should start later in the year.
Subsea installations are progressing at the company’s deepwater Sangomar oilfield development offshore Senegal, with the overall subsea work scope 95% complete at the end of Q2. The rigid flowlines, totaling 101 km in length, have been installed and tested.
By mid-year, 12 of the 23 production, gas and water injection wells were complete, and the joint venture has approved drilling of an additional well to optimize field recovery, probably using the drillship Ocean BlackRhino.
In the Mediterranean Sea the Egyptian regulator has approved the company’s acquisition of a 27% interest in two non-operated blocks in the Herodotus basin, with the co-venturers electing to enter the second exploration phase for one of the blocks.
Woodside has decided to exit Block 5 in deepwater Trinidad & Tobago and is completing formal exit activities in South Korea and Myanmar’s offshore Block A-6.
08.22.2023
