Sapura lands Dorado wellhead platform job

Australian energy giant Santos has awarded the FEED contract for the design, construction, and installation of the wellhead platform (WHP) for the Dorado project, in the Bedout Sub-basin offshore Western Australia, to Sapura Energy.

Announcing the contract award on Thursday, Santos said that the WHP will be an unmanned installation, located in 90 metres of water over the Dorado oil and gas field, hosting the development wells and gas reinjection wells with minimal processing facilities, remotely operated from an FPSO vessel approximately two kilometres away.

Earlier this week, Santos also awarded the FEED contract for the Dorado FPSO vessel to Altera Infrastructure.

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.

Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Gallagher, said: “This contract for the wellhead platform is the project’s last significant commitment as we progress towards a project final investment decision around the middle of next year.

“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”.

Santos has an 80 per cent interest in the Dorado project and is the operator. The remaining interest is held by Carnarvon Petroleum.

Development drilling will be conducted with a jack-up drilling unit after the WHP has been installed, with the drilling of the wells planned for 2024 and 2025, Santos’ partner Carnarvon said.

Carnarvon Managing Director and CEO, Adrian Cook, said: “While the wellhead platform is an important component in the development, it is also being designed to accommodate supply from additional resources”.