The Australian company is working on phase 1 development of the Sangomar field, targeting around 230 million barrels of crude oil.. As a result, Woodside awarded the contract to supply the FPSO, named after Senegal's first president, Léopold Sédar Senghorfor the MODEC project in 2020.
In January 2023, the underwater installation campaign had progressed, with rigid pipeline installation 69% complete. The development drilling program continued, with seven of the 23 wells completed, while the drilling phase continued. construction of FPSO completed in China.
The FPSO was then transferred to Singapore to complete the integration and pre-commissioning of the topsides. The project was 77% complete at the end of the fourth quarter of 2022. The first oil was scheduled for late 2023.
However, as unexpected repair work is required on the FPSO for this project, first oil is now scheduled for mid-2024 and the total cost of the project is expected to be 4.9 to 5.2 billion dollars an increase of 7 à 13 % 4.6 billion, following a review of costs and schedule. The overall project was 88% complete by June 30, 2023.
In addition, the subsea installation campaign was 76% complete, and the subsea scope of work was 95% complete. In addition, the development drilling program continued, with 12 of 23 wells drilled and completed.
While the drill ship Ocean BlackHawk Diamond Offshore completed its work field in July, the remaining drilling activity will be completed by the drillship Ocean BlackRhino . According to Woodside, well results to date have confirmed the quality of the resource.
« Nous avons pris la décision prudente de faire effectuer les travaux de réparation pendant que le FPSO reste au chantier naval de Singapour. Cela minimise l’impact sur le calendrier du projet car il est plus sûr, plus efficace et plus rentable que d’entreprendre les travaux au large du Sénégal. » Meg O’Neill Woodside CEO.
"This approach ensures that we can achieve production start-up according to the adjusted schedule and accelerate operations as planned. The change in the project schedule has no impact on Woodside's production forecasts for 2023."
China's Cosco has begun converting a very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) in FPSO for the Sangomar project in 2021. The surface modules were manufactured by COSCO and BOMESC Offshore Engineering Company in Tianjin, and the external turret mooring system was produced by Penglai Jutal Offshore, Heavy Industries Engineering (PJOE).
As Keppel was hired by MODEC in 2022 to complete the integration of the topsides and support pre-commissioning and commissioning activities for this FPSO The vessel was transferred to Keppel Offshore & Marine's Tuas shipyard in Singapore.
Once completed and delivered to Woodside, the FPSO will have the capacity to treat 100,000 barrels of oil per day The vessel will be moored in waters around 780 meters deep, around 100 km south of Dakar, Senegal.
Phase 1 development of the Sangomar field will be Senegal's first post-commissioning offshore oil project. Woodside is the operator with an 82% stake in the project, while its parent company, Petrosen, holds the remaining 18%.