Australia's Woodside says the Scarborough project could move into front end engineering and design in 2017, with a final investment decision by 2020.
Woodside acquired a stake in the ExxonMobil-operated license, containing the Scarborough field, in the Carnarvon Basin, offshore western Australia, late 2016, from BHP Billiton.
The acquisition included 25% interest in WA-1-R and 50% interest in WA-62-R, which together contain the Scarborough gas field. ExxonMobil is the operator of WA-1-R. Furthermore, Woodside acquired 50% interest and operate WA-61-R and WA-63-R which contain the Jupiter and Thebe gas fields.
Scarborough, Thebe and Jupiter are estimated to contain gross 8.7 Tcf of gas resources. The blocks are close to existing infrastructure, but the project had also been seen as a potential standalone floating LNG development. However, plans on the project have moved slowly.
Scarborough, discovered in 1979, is about 220km northwest of Exmouth in 900m water depth. It is one of the most remote of the Carnarvon Basin gas resources.
Myanmar
Meanwhile, Woodside says its latest drilling campaign offshore Myanmar is due to start in February 2017. Its first two wells will appraisal wells on the Thalin discovery and focussed on reservoir and deliverability. Both wells will include coring and drill stem tests.
The drilling of two exploration wells has been approved by the joint venture participants. A well will be drilled in each of Block A-6 and Block AD-7. The campaign also has scope for up to three contingent wells. Work is underway on two additional drilling candidates.
Gabon
Following processing of multi-client 3D seismic data on the Doukou Dak and Luna Muetse blocks, the joint venture is planning for a well to be drilled in 2017/ 2018.
Developments
Woodside's Persephone project remains on budget and on schedule for start-up in Q3 2017. The project is 89.9% complete, with reservoir drilling and completions and subsea installation underway.
The Greater Western Flank 2 project is also on budget and schedule, with 33.4% completion. The installation of mooring piles at the two drill centers has started, as has production well drilling.
Greater Enfield is on schedule for first oil in mid-2019, with manufacturing of subsea equipment underway.
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