The SNE Discovery Offshore Senegal - Moving a Frontier Basin to Emergent

“In 2014 Cairn Energy operated the first deep water wells offshore Senegal in the MSGBC basin. Both the FAN-1 and SNE-1 wells were basin-opening discoveries, encountering light oil and gas in both basinal and platform settings. SNE-1 was the largest global oil discovery in 2014, and is currently estimated to hold 2C reserves of over 550 million barrels of recoverable oil and 1.3 TCF gas. These frontier discoveries demonstrate how careful analysis of available data pre-drill can illuminate opportunity, mitigate risk and lead to success in moving a basin from frontier to emergent.

The SNE field has been defined by eight exploration and appraisal wells. Hydrocarbons are contained within a combination structural and stratigraphic trap. Two Albian-age reservoir zones have been designated: the shallower S400 Series and the deeper S500 Series. Both zones are turbidites deposited in a slope to toe-of-slope setting. The maximum extent of the field is 350 square kilometers, with a 100 m column of 31o API oil. The SNE Field has now been fully appraised and is moving towards final investment decision (FID). A phased development is planned, with a target plateau of 75,000–125,000 bopd with subsea infrastructure tied back to an FPSO.”