Santos makes FID for Timor Sea drilling and expansion

Santos has made a final investment decision for the $306 million, Phase 3C infill drilling program at the Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea offshore Timor-Leste.

The Adelaide-based company said the program would include three production wells (two platform and one subsea) to develop additional natural gas and liquid reserves, extending field life as well as production from the offshore facilities and the Darwin LNG plant.

Santo, with 68.4 per cent of the Bayu-Undan joint venture, became operator in June last year after acquiring ConocoPhillips’ northern Australia and Timor-Leste assets.

The Noble Tim Proser jack-up rig will de deployed to drill the wells with the first spud scheduled for the second quarter of 2021 and production targeted in the third quarter.

Santos managing director and chief executive Kevin Gallagher said: “We are delighted to be able to pursue an opportunity that wasn’t on the table 12 months ago, which will optimise field recovery, extend production and deliver significant value to both the Bayu-Undan Joint Venture and the people of Timor-Leste.

“Only through a close and constructive working relationship with the Timor-Leste Government and our joint venture partners have we been able to move so quickly towards our shared goal of maximising value from the Bayu-Undan field.

“This infill drilling program adds over 20 million barrels of oil equivalent gross reserves and production at a low of cost of supply and extends the life of Bayu-Undan, reducing the period that Darwin LNG is offline before the Barossa project comes on stream.”

Santos currently has a 68.4% interest and operatorship in Bayu-Undan and Darwin LNG which will reduce to 43.4% upon completion of a 25% sell down to SK E&S.

“Completion of the SK E&S sell-down is now well advanced with consent from Bayu-Undan/DLNG Joint Venture and Timor-Leste regulator received before Christmas last year and we are well progressed with Australian regulatory approvals. The sell-down will complete once the Final Investment Decision on Barossa is taken in 1H 2021,” Mr Gallagher said.