Phase 1 of Senegal's SNE development commences FEED activities

EDINBURGH -- Woodside has advised that the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) joint venture has agreed to commence front-end engineering and design (FEED) activities following the award of the subsea FEED contract to Subsea Integration Alliance for the SNE Field Development-Phase 1 (SNE development) offshore Senegal. Further FEED contracts are targeted to be awarded in early 2019.

The FEED work involves undertaking activities required to finalize the costs and technical definition for the proposed development to enable a final investment decision, targeted for mid-2019.

Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said the decision to commence FEED activities was a significant step towards the development of Senegal’s first oil project.

“We plan to progress the SNE development towards the earliest possible commercialization of the discovered resources. Completing FEED activities will be a key enabler of a final investment decision.

“We are also excited to be moving forward on the SNE development as it is a key pillar of Horizon Two of our growth strategy.

“As part of FEED activities, the RSSD joint venture will continue working with the Government of Senegal, local communities and our contractors to realize the potential opportunities and benefits from this nationally significant development,” he said.

Commencing FEED activities follows approval by the Senegalese Minister of Petroleum and Energies of Woodside assuming the role of operator, and the RSSD joint venture’s submission of the SNE Field Development and Exploitation Plan to the Government of Senegal.

The SNE development concept is a stand-alone floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) facility with supporting subsea infrastructure. It will be designed to allow subsequent SNE development phases, including options for gas export to shore and for future subsea tie-backs from other reservoirs and fields. ​Phase 1 of the development will target an estimated 230 MMbbl of oil resources (P50 gross) from the lower, less complex reservoirs and an initial phase in the upper reservoirs. The FPSO is expected to have a capacity of around 100,000 bpd, with first oil production targeted in 2022.

In parallel to the commencement of FEED activities, the RSSD joint venture continues to progress project financing and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.