A final investment decision (FID) statement for the first phase development of the Sangomar oil field offshore Senegal has been signed by the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore joint venture (RSSD joint venture).

An official ceremony saw Cairn Energy and its joint venture partners, Woodside Energy and FAR inking the FID statement in agreement with Petrosen and the Senegal government.

Petrosen, the Senegal national oil company, is part of the RSSD joint venture, which holds the right to develop the Sangomar oil project, which is scheduled to begin production in 2023.

The signing of the FID follows last week’s receipt of the 25-year exploitation authorization from the Senegalese government.

The Sangomar phase 1 development will target an estimated 2P recoverable oil reserves of 231 mmbbls (gross) through a stand-alone floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility. The Sangomar oil project will also involve the drilling of 23 subsea wells with the FPSO along with the installation of the associated subsea infrastructure.

Sangomar oil field development contracts

To be supplied by Japan-based MODEC, the Sangomar FPSO will be capable of producing 100,000 barrels per day (bbl/day).

Subsea Integration Alliance, which is a partnership between Subsea 7 and OneSubsea, will be responsible for delivering the subsea production systems, subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines needed for the Sangomar oil field phase 1 development.

The RSSD joint venture had given a couple of well-based contracts to Diamond Offshore, which will involve the deployment of the latter’s Ocean BlackRhino and Ocean BlackHawk drill rigs.

Cairn Energy said that the total recoverable oil resources of the Sangomar field over its over its lifetime are estimated to be about 500 mmbbls. The RSSD joint venture also have plans for export of gas to shore as part of the Sangomar oil field development.

Formerly known as the SNE field, the offshore Senegalese oil field was discovered by Cairn Energy in 2014.

Simon Thomson – chief executive of Cairn Energy, commenting on the Sangomar field development FID, said: “Cairn’s discoveries offshore Senegal from the country’s first deep water wells opened up a new basin on the Atlantic Margin. Cairn has operated three drilling programmes and successfully laid the foundation for Senegal’s first multi-phase oil and gas development.

“Senegal is now an attractive oil and gas province, drawing the attention of the global industry.”

Woodside is the operator of the RSSD joint venture with 35%, while Cairn Energy is the largest stakeholder with 40%. FAR and Petrosen have stakes of 15% and 10%, respectively in the joint venture.

  Cairn Energy, FAR, MODEC International, OneSubsea, Petrosen, Sangomar oil field, Senegal, Simon Thomson, SNE field, Subsea 7, Subsea Integration Alliance, Total, Woodside