Malaysia’s Sapura Energy has secured the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract from Santos to deliver the Wellhead Platform (WHP) for the Dorado project, offshore Western Australia.
Work will include the design, construction and installation of the WHP.
Notably, the latest contract was awarded days after Santos selected Altera Infrastructure for the delivery of the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility for the Dorado project.
The WHP will be situated in 90m water over the Dorado oil and gas field hosting the development and gas reinjection wells and some processing facilities. The uncrewed platform will be remotely operated from the FPSO facility around 2km away.
Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said: “This contract for the wellhead platform is the project’s last significant commitment as we progress towards a project final investment decision around the middle of next year.
“The WHP is a critical component of the development requiring a company with Sapura’s deep construction and installation experience.
“The design allows for the integrated development of both the gas and liquids resource and retains sufficient flexibility to support future exploration success, with the Pavo and Apus prospects to be drilled early next year.”
Dorado is planned to be developed in two phases. In the first phase, the project will produce oil and condensate using the WHP and FPSO.
Subsequently, Santos plans to reinject gas to improve oil and condensate recovery.
In the final phase, the company will develop the significant natural gas resources in the Bedout Sub-basin.
Santos operates the Dorado project with an 80% stake. The remaining interest is with Carnarvon Petroleum.
