Rick Wilkinson
OGJ Correspondent
MELBOURNE, Jan. 2 -- A joint venture led by ENI Australia has been given the green light to spend $180 million (Aus.) to develop the South Lobe section of the Woollybutt oil field in the Carnarvon basin off Western Australia.
The new project, in production license WA-25-L, involves connection of two horizontal wells (Woollybutt 4 and 6) to the existing leased floating production, storage, and offloading vessel Four Vanguard via subsea pipeline.
Contracts have been secured for drilling and completion of the two wells, modifications to the FPSO, subsea wellheads, flowlines, manifolds, and control systems as well as installation and transport of the necessary equipment.
The wells will be drilled in mid-2007 and first production from the South Lobe is expected early in 2008.
The new development will boost oil production from the field by about 10,000 b/d and increase field life. The FPSO contract runs until 2009 and there are optional extensions until 2013.
So far Woollybutt field has produced about 26.5 million bbl and is currently flowing at 11,000 b/d.
ENI Australia has 65% interest, with Mobil Australia Resources 20% and Tap Oil Ltd 15%.
