Santos has awarded a contract for the design, construction and installation of the Wellhead Platform (WHP) for the Dorado project, in the Bedout Sub-basin, offshore Western Australia.
The WHP will be an unmanned installation, located in 90 metres water over the Dorado oil and gas field, hosting the development wells and gas reinjection wells with minimal processing facilities, remotely operated from a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility approximately two kilometres away.
Dorado is an integrated oil and gas project which is planned to be developed in two phases. The initial development involves the production of oil and condensate through a WHP and FPSO. Gas will be reinjected in the initial phase to enhance oil and condensate recovery, followed by a planned future phase of gas production to backfill Santos’ domestic gas infrastructure in WA.
Dorado is a very low CO2 reservoir with approximately 1.5 per cent CO2 and reinjection of gas in the initial phase, making it one of the lowest emission intensity oil projects in the region.
Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said the contract for the wellhead platform is the project’s last significant commitment in the progress towards a project final investment decision which is expected around mid-2022.
“The WHP is a critical component of the development requiring a company with Sapura’s deep construction and installation experience. The design 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,” he said.
“Whilst operating unmanned, the WHP will have several innovative features including sophisticated reservoir performance monitoring functionality to facilitate optimal reservoir recovery.”
The project has a Federal Government approved Australian Industry Participation Plan ensuring full, fair and reasonable opportunities for Australian industry to compete for work.
Santos has an 80 per cent interest in the Dorado project and is operator. The remaining interest is held by Carnarvon Petroleum.
