Contract for SNE field FPSO goes to MODEC

Australia’s Woodside has awarded the front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for the SNE field development Phase 1 floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to Japan’s MODEC.

Woodside is the operator of the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) joint venture, which contains the SNE field.

MODEC said on Monday that, under the contract and subject to a final investment decision on the project in 2019, it will be responsible for the supply, charter and operations of the FPSO.

The SNE deep-water oil field is expected to be Senegal’s first offshore oil development.

According to MODEC, the FPSO will be designed to produce around 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with the first oil production targeted in 2022. The FPSO will be moored in water depth of approximately 800 meters.

Woodside CEO, Peter Coleman, said: “Securing an FPSO facility is a significant step for the joint venture and will allow the project team to complete the technical and commercial activities required to support a final investment decision, targeted for mid-2019.”

FAR, Woodside’s partner in the project, said on Monday that the FPSO will be designed to allow for the integration of subsequent SNE development phases, including gas export to shore and future subsea tie-backs from other reservoirs and fields. Phase 1 of the development will target an estimated 230 mmbbl of oil resources (P50 gross) from 11 producing wells, 10 water injectors and 2 gas injectors.

FAR’s Managing Director Cath Norman said, “This is another milestone reached for the SNE development and for the RSSD joint venture towards reaching a Final Investment Decision (FID) targeted for 2019.”

Woodside has previously awarded the subsea FEED contract for the SNE Field Development-Phase 1 to Subsea Integration Alliance, a partnership between Schlumberger and Subsea 7.

The SNE field is held by Woodside Energy (Senegal) B.V. (35%) as operator, Cairn Energy Senegal (40%), FAR Limited (15%) and PETROSEN (10%) under a Production Sharing Contract (PSC).