Kosmos increases interest, assumes operatorship of Yakaar-Teranga discoveries offshore Senegal

Kosmos Energy Ltd. has increased its working interest to 90% and assumed operatorship, subject to customary government approvals, of the Yakaar-Teranga gas discoveries offshore Senegal. The increase in working interest follows bp's exit from the field (60%).

The Yakaar and Teranga discoveries in the Cayar Offshore Profond block confirmed that a prolific inboard gas fairway extends about 200 km from Mauritania through the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project area along the maritime boundary and into Senegal.

The Yakaar-Teranga gas discovery holds around 25 tcf of advantaged gas in place, with negligible carbon dioxide content and minimal impurities, reducing the need for processing ahead of transportation/liquefaction, Kosmos said in a release Nov. 6. Three wells, Teranga-1, Yakaar-1, and Yakaar-2 encountered natural gas at reservoirs of Lower Cenomanian age.

Kosmos has been working with partner Petrosen and the government of Senegal on a development concept that prioritizes cost-competitive gas to the domestic market, combined with an offshore LNG plant targeting exports into international markets. A phased approach is being considered.

The currently envisioned concept is an offshore development producing about 550 MMscfd of gas with domestic gas transported via pipeline to shore and export volumes liquified on a floating LNG vessel. Kosmos said the concept is “being optimized to best meet the domestic and international requirements, after which the project will move into front-end design and engineering (FEED),” and that as the optimization progresses, the company aims for Petrosen “to participate as an equal partner in the full value chain with a greater working interest.”