(Trinidad Guardian) Shell T&T yesterday announced that production has started from its Barracuda project after achieving first gas on Sunday.
“This marks a significant milestone in the delivery of gas both domestically and internationally through Atlantic LNG,” a release from Shell stated.
Maarten Wetselaar, director of Integrated Gas, Renewable and Energy Solutions, said the announcement “strengthens the resilience and competitiveness of Shell’s position in T&T.
“This is a key growth opportunity that supports our long-term strategy in the country as well as our global LNG growth ambitions,” Wetselaar stated.
Project Barracuda, which is Block 5C in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) in T&T, is a backfill project with approximately 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (140 mmscf/d) of sustained near-term gas production with peak production expected to be approximately 40,000 boe/d (220 mmscf/d).
Shell stated that the estimated production for Barracuda represents 100 per cent total gross figures. It is Shell’s first greenfield project in the country and one of its largest in T&T since the BG Group acquisition.
The Barracuda project comprises two subsea wells (both 100 per cent Shell owned), one in the Endeavour field and the other in the Bounty field. Both are tied back to Shell’s Dolphin platform.
These are two of the deepest development wells in T&T; Endeavour was drilled to a depth of 20,000 feet (6,096 metres) while Bounty was drilled to a depth of 16,000 feet (4,877 metres).
Shell said it now looks forward to the delivery of the four-well development project in Block 22 and NCMA 4, known as the Colibri project. This is a joint venture with Heritage Petroleum Company Limited. First gas from Colibri is expected in 2022.
Shell is the majority shareholder in Atlantic LNG, a significant global producer of LNG.
Its equity in the Atlantic plant ranges from 46 per cent to 57.5 per cent in each of the four trains at the facility.
“We are immensely proud of our people and the remarkable work it took to achieve this milestone, particularly given that drilling began in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Eugene Okpere, Shell’s Senior VP and country chair.
“Our execution strategy had to be completely overhauled to deliver our business plan, all while working remotely. It required tremendous resilience, adaptability and commitment,” Okpere stated.
“The ECMA is one of the most prolific gas-producing areas in T&T. As part of Shell’s development strategy, the company has sought ways to access the significant volumes that exist in the ECMA and to bring them online,” the release stated.
Shell announced Final Investment Decision for Project Barracuda in January 2020.
