Woodside’s Scarborough project proposal open for public comment

Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has released Woodside Energy Ltd.’s proposed Scarborough field development plan for public comment.

Scarborough gas field lies 375 km off Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula and forms part of the Greater Scarborough area comprising Scarborough, Scarborough North, Thebe, and Jupiter fields.

Woodside is operator of the development with a 75% interest. The proposal is for development of the remote gas via new offshore facilities with high flow-rate subsea wells and subsea infield infrastructure located in federal waters.

The initial plan involves Scarborough and Scarborough North fields where the subsea wells will be tied back to a semisubmersible floating production unit moored in 900 m of water close to Scarborough field. A 430-km, 32-in. subsea gas pipeline will be constructed from the FPU to Woodside’s onshore Pluto LNG facility where gas from Scarborough and Scarborough North will be processed via a new Train 2 expansion.

The proposed development is an integral part of Woodside’s Burrup Peninsula Hub vision for a regional gas center designed to secure economic growth and local employment opportunities for Western Australia.

In addition, Thebes and Jupiter fields are being considered for future development and tieback to the Scarborough infrastructure. The proposed trunk line also will pass close to other undeveloped fields and Woodside is in talks with the various operators of these fields to sound out the opportunities for future tie-ins.

Woodside is planning for a final investment decision on the Scarborough project in 2020 and an on-stream date of 2023. The first drilling phase will be in 2020 followed by installation of the trunk line in 2022.

The FPU will be installed in 2023 while Phase 2 drilling (including Thebes and Jupiter) is planned for 2025. The project is expected to have a 30-year life.

The project area falls within retention leases WA-1-R, WA-62-R, WA-61-R and WA-63-R.