Santos Ltd. has made a final investment decision for Van Gogh oil field infill development Phase 2 in the Exmouth basin offshore Western Australia.
The work will involve drilling and completing three new horizontal, dual-lateral production wells on the field along with a subsea tieback to the existing infrastructure. The aim is to maximize field production and access additional reserves. The project will also lower unit production costs.
First oil from the new phase is expected in late 2021. Commitment to long-lead items, including subsea Christmas trees and wellhead systems, has been made to ensure the earliest possible start-up.
The Valaris MS1 semi-submersible rig has been contracted for the program and is expected to begin early in 2021.
Van Gogh field lies in production licence WA-35-L and is one of three subsea oil field developments in the basin that tie into the floating, production, storage, and offtake vessel Ningaloo Vision.
Production from Van Gogh began in 2010. Nearby Coniston and Novara fields were tied into the FPSO in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Phase 1 of the infill program at Van Gogh was successfully brought on stream last year.
Santos is operator of the three fields with 52.5%. Inpex Corp. holds the remaining 47.5% interest.