Cairn targets development approval for SNE field by year-end

UK-based independent Cairn Energy has completed its third phase of the drilling program offshore Senegal and is now targeting development approval for the SNE field by the end of 2018.

Cairn’s third phase of drilling program offshore Senegal, meant to further evaluate the SNE field, started in late January 2017 using the Stena Drilling-owned Stena DrillMAX drillship. The drilling campaign was completed in August 2017.

In an operational update on Tuesday, Cairn confirmed that, as part of its three-year evaluation work plan submitted to the government of Senegal in 2015, the SNE field appraisal and concept select definition are concluding for the first phase of development of the extensive resource base. The company and its partners aim to have a government-approved exploitation plan in place by the end of 2018 with a target of first oil in 2021-2023.

The field exploitation plan will cover the development of the entire SNE resource base estimated at 563 million barrels of oil (mmbbls).

The first phase of the development is expected to have an initial well count of up to 25 wells, targeting about 240 mmbbls, principally in the S500 lower reservoir with an initial target plateau range of 75-125,000 bopd.

Cairn was in August 2017 already planning for phased development of the SNE field using a standalone FPSO with subsea wells and expansion capability.

Cairn Energy is the operator of three blocks offshore Senegal (Sangomar Deep, Sangomar Offshore, Rufisque Offshore), which contain the SNE field, with Woodside, Far and Petrosen as its partners. Woodside’s participation in the acreage offshore Senegal through the acquisition of interest from ConocoPhillips has been challenged by Far.

Offshore Energy Today Staff