Woodside achieves first oil from Sangomar field offshore Senegal

Australia's Woodside, the operator of the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore, and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) joint venture, announced on 11 June that it had achieved first oil from the Sangomar field offshore Senegal.

The Sangomar Phase 1 is a deepwater project that includes a stand-alone floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility with a nameplate capacity of 100,000 barrels/day, and subsea infrastructure designed to allow subsequent development phases.

Although primarily an oil production project, Woodside also envisions exporting commercial quantities of natural gas to the shore. Woodside completed the acquisition of the entire participating interest of Sydney-listed FAR in the RSSD joint venture in early July 2021.

“This is a historic day for Senegal and for Woodside,” said Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill. “First oil from the Sangomar field is a key milestone and reflects delivery against our strategy.”

Woodside holds an 82% participating interest in the Sangomar exploitation area, with Senegalese state-owned Petrosen holding 18%. Additionally, Woodside has a 90% participating interest in the remaining RSSD evaluation area, with Petrosen holding 10%.

The Phase 1 development includes 23 wells (11 production wells, 10 water injection wells, and 2 gas injection wells). Woodside said that 21 of the 23 wells have been drilled and completed, including nine production wells. The RSSD joint venture has also approved a 24th production well that will be completed in the current campaign.

The Sangomar Phase 1 project cost estimate remains within the provided range of $4.9-$5.2bn, Woodside said. The drilling campaign at Sangomar is ongoing, and Woodside expects to continue commissioning activities and safely ramping up production through 2024.

In July 2023, the company announced an increase in costs and a revised schedule for the project.