FPSO turnaround, maintenance impact Woodside production

Woodside Energy Group Ltd., Perth, produced 46.8 MMboe (520,000 boe/d) in first-quarter 2023, down 9% from fourth-quarter 2022 production of 51.6 MMboe due to planned turnaround on Ngujima-Yin FPSO, planned onshore and offshore maintenance activities, and lower Australian east coast gas market demand on Bass Strait.

Production year-over-year, however, was up 122%, driven by expanded operations post-merger with BHP’s petroleum business, the company said in a release Apr. 20 (OGJ Online, Aug. 23, 2021). Full-year 2023 production guidance 180-190 MMboe remains unchanged, the company said.

The Ngujima-Yin FPSO commenced a planned 5-yearly maintenance turnaround in a Singapore drydock and is expected to return to production in this year’s third quarter.

Executing major projects

Woodside chief executive officer Meg O’Neill said the operator is delivering on operational performance in the quarter and updated the market on the company’s major projects.

“We are making good progress on all major growth projects in Australia and globally. The Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 projects are now 30% complete, with construction of key offshore and onshore infrastructure ramping up. First concrete has now been poured on the Pluto Train 2 site. Engagement with stakeholders and regulators on secondary environmental approvals for offshore execution activities continued,” she said (OGJ Online, Sept. 20, 2022). Manufacturing of the export trunkline 86% complete and first concrete poured for Pluto Train 2.

“The Sangomar development drilling program is nearing its half-way point, with ten of 23 wells completed.” Installation and testing of the rigid flowlines, which total 101 km in length, were completed, she said, and the company is targeting first oil later this year (OGJ Online, Nov. 29, 2022).

In the US Gulf of Mexico, the company has received tenders for equipment and activities at the Trion project, including the floating production unit, long-lead rotating equipment, subsea equipment, drilling rig and installation scopes. Final investment decision is expected this year.

In February, the Sunrise joint venture committed to undertake a concept select program for development of Greater Sunrise fields in parallel with the ongoing negotiation of a new production sharing contract and associated agreements with the Timor-Leste and Australian Governments (OGJ Online, Feb. 26, 2023).