Phase 1 of the integrated oil and gas project will involve the production of oil and condensate through a well head platform (WHP) and floating production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO) at an estimate cost of approximately US$2 billion ($2.64 billion).
Phase 2 will develop natural gas resources in the Bedout Sub-basin and provide future backfill supply to Santos’ WA domestic gas infrastructure assets.
FEED contracts for the WHP and FPSO design are currently being finalised, and Santos expects to award these over the next few months.
Santos Managing Director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said the project is anticipated to have an initial gross oil production rate of between 75,000 and 100,000 bbl/day of high quality crude.
“Dorado is also a very low CO2 reservoir with approximately 1.5 per cent CO2, and with all gas reinjected in the initial phase, making it one of the lowest emission intensity oil projects in the region,” he said.
“After the initial phase of liquids production, gas export from the development allows for a future source of supply into our domestic gas infrastructure in WA.”
Santos has an 80 per cent operating interest in Dorado, while Carnarvon Petroleum holds the remaining 20 per cent.
For more information visit the Santos website.