Woodside as operator of the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) joint venture, which includes Société des Pétroles du Sénégal (PETROSEN), plans to begin the drilling campaign this week for the Sangomar Field Development Phase 1 offshore Senegal.

Woodside Acting CEO Meg O’Neill said the start of drilling marked a milestone towards the delivery of Sangomar Field Development Phase 1.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of these operations, which brings the realisation of an oil industry in Senegal an important step closer.

“The RSSD joint venture took final investment decision in January 2020, and work to develop the world-class Sangomar resource has continued since. With the start of the 23-well drilling campaign, we remain on track to achieve targeted first oil production in 2023,” she said.

The wells will be drilled by two drilling ships, the Ocean BlackRhino and the Ocean BlackHawk. The Ocean BlackRhino arrived in Senegalese waters on 8 July 2021 and the Ocean BlackHawk will arrive in mid-2022.

A fleet of three supply vessels and three helicopters will support the drilling ships, transporting the materials, equipment and personnel needed for the campaign. The ships will operate out of the Senegal Supply Base, located at Mole 1 in the Port of Dakar.

Woodside’s participating interest in the RSSD joint venture is 82%for the Sangomar exploitation area (with PETROSEN’s participating interest 18%) and 90% for the remaining RSSD evaluation area (with PETROSEN’s participating interest 10%).

The Sangomar Field Development Phase 1 will comprise a stand-alone floating production storage and offloading facility (named after Leopold Sédar Senghor) with a production capacity of approximately 100,000 barrels per day, 23 subsea wells and supporting subsea infrastructure.

The joint venture is committed to the development of the Sangomar field in accordance with international industry best practice and relevant government regulations.