A consortium of three firms will shortly begin development of Legendre North and South oil fields on the North West Shelf off Western Australia. The move to develop the fields follows nearly 30 years after discovery of the reservoir now called Legendre North.
Participants in the joint venture are: operator Woodside Energy Ltd., Melbourne (45.94%); Apache Energy Ltd., Houston (31.5%); and Santos Ltd., Adelaide (22.56%).
The fields lie in 45-60 m of water on permit area WA-1-P, 60 miles north of the Burrup Peninsula and 20 miles southeast of Wanaea-Cossack oil fields (see map). Proved and probable reserves are estimated to be more than 40 million bbl.
Development is expected to cost about $110 million (Aus.).
Slow development
In 1968, the find was initially thought too small to be economic. In 1997, a successful appraisal well-Jaubert 1, now called Legendre 3-was drilled. The following year, the Legendre South 1 well found oil in a nearby, but separate, structure.
The proposed development plan includes the drilling of four horizontal production wells: three in Legendre North and one in Legendre South. One gas reinjection well will be drilled directionally and connected to a mobile offshore production unit (MOPU)-a converted jack up rig. MOPU services will be provided by Oceaneering International Inc., Houston.
Production will be via the MOPU and through a 25-cm, 2.5-km in-field pipeline linking the MOPU to a catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoy system (see diagram).
Oil will flow into a dedicated floating storage and offtake vessel or directly into an export tanker.
Bluewater Terminal Systems NV, Essen, Belgium, will construct the mooring system, to be built in Australia.
The partners expect peak production to reach 40,000 b/d. First oil is expected in mid-2001.
