The Cairn Energy-led group offshore Senegal has begun front-end engineering and design (FEED) work for the first phase of the proposed development of the SNE oil field (OGJ Online, Oct. 26, 2018).
The work follows the award of the subsea FEED contract to Subsea Integration Alliance, an international partnership between OneSubsea, Schlumberger, and Subsea 7.
Feed work includes activities required to finalize the costs and technical definition for the proposed development leading to a final investment decision that is targeted for mid-2019.
The development concept for SNE involves a stand-alone floating production, storage and offtake vessel (FPSO) with supporting subsea infrastructure. It will be designed to enable SNE development in phases, including options for sending associated gas to shore and for future subsea tie-backs from other reservoirs and fields.
Phase 1 will target an estimated 230 million bbl of oil reserves from the lower, less complex reservoirs and an initial phase in the upper reservoirs. Production will be from 11 wells and there will be 10 water injection wells and two gas injection wells.
The FPSO will have a capacity of 100,000 b/d and the field is expected to be brought on stream in 2022.
The start of FEED follows approval by the Senegalese Minister of Petroleum and Energies for Perth-based JV member, Woodside Petroleum Ltd. assuming the role of development operator.
In parallel with FEED, the JV will continue to progress project financing and the environmental and social impact assessment for the project.
SNE field was discovered in 2014 and was the first field discovered offshore Senegal.
The SNE joint venture comprises Cairn with 40%, Woodside 35%, Perth-based FAR Ltd. 15% and the Senegal national oil company Petrosen with 10%. Petrosen also has the right to increase its equity to 18% on development.
