First production is expected during first half 2010.

The plan for the $1.7 billion development calls for purchase of a double-hulled floating production, storage, and offloading vessel having processing capacity of 96,000 b/d of oil and storage capacity of 850,000 bbl. It also requires 13 subsea wells to be tied back to the FPSO and for the produced oil to be exported via shuttle tankers.

Oil reserves in the development area are estimated at 80-120 million bbl of oil and the economic life of the development at 25 years.

Development of WA-155-P will follow development of WA-12-R, said project coventurer Apache Corp.

Project operator BHP Billiton holds 71.43% of the Pyrenees development, while Apache holds 28.57%.

PIN/OGJ.COM