Santos starts FEED phase of Dorado project

Dorado is an integrated oil and gas project which is planned to be developed in two phases. Phase 1 development involves the production of oil and condensate through a wellhead platform (WHP) and FPSO. Phase 1 has an estimated gross capital cost of approximately US$2 billion, assuming a purchased FPSO.

Phase 2 will then develop the significant natural gas resources in the Bedout Sub-basin and provide future backfill supply to Santos’ current WA domestic gas infrastructure assets.

Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said Dorado is expected to have an initial gross oil production rate of between 75 000 to 100 000 bpd of crude.

“Entering FEED for the Dorado project is a significant milestone and has the project on schedule for a final investment decision around mid-2022, building on the investment decision on the Barossa gas project earlier this year,” Gallagher said.

“After the initial phase of liquids production, gas export from the development allows for a future source of supply into our domestic gas infrastructure in Western Australia.

“Potential nearby tie-in opportunities, starting with the Pavo and Apus prospects to be drilled early next year, could be easily tied-back into the Dorado infrastructure and materially increase the value of the project, due to the very low cost of development,” Gallagher said.

FEED contracts for the FPSO and WHP design are being finalised and are expected to be awarded over the next few months. This follows the competitive pre-FEED phase of the project where top-tier contractors have been engaged for these major work packages.

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

Santos is currently undertaking a process to seek interest from the market in non-operated equity in Dorado and potentially other WA oil assets.

Read the latest issue of Oilfield Technology in full for free: Issue 2 2021

Oilfield Technology’s second issue of 2021 starts with a report from KPMG that examines the outlook for the Scottish oil and gas sector. The rest of the issue is dedicated to articles covering the offshore supply chain industry, offshore asset integrity, expandable liner technology, advances in drilling, data security, flow control, EOR and methane emissions.

Exclusive contributions come from Tata Steel, EM&I Group, 3X Engineering, Enventure Global Technology, Varel Energy Solutions, Adrilltech, Tendeka and more.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/offshore-and-subsea/29062021/santos-starts-feed-phase-of-dorado-project/