Total Austral, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, started the development drilling program at Fénix natural gas field, 60 km off the coast of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The project is on track for first gas by yearend.
The Noble jack up drilling rig Regina Allen has been deployed and is temporarily sited next to the new Fénix production platform, which was installed earlier this year. Three development wells are planned to be drilled, completed, and put on production over the coming months, said partner Wintershall Dea in a release June 7.
Production will be transported via a 24-in. OD subsea multiphase line to the existing Vega Pléyade platform 35 km from Fénix. The gas will be processed and conditioned at the Río Cullen plant, and will then enter the San Martín Gasduct.
Fénix is the largest natural gas field currently being developed off the Argentine coast and is expected to contribute for more than 15 years to Argentina’s energy supply with an expected peak production of around 10 million cu m/day of gas. The total investment of the consortium in the Fénix development is about $700 million.
Total Austral is operator of the field with 37.5% interest. Partners are Wintershall Dea (37.5%) and Pan American Energy (25%).