Cairn Hires Xodus for Senegal Studies

Cairn has awarded London-based engineering consultancy Xodus Group two Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) contracts, relating to Cairn-operated blocks offshore Senegal. The value of the contracts was not disclosed.

Cairn made major oil and gas discoveries there and plans development of the SNE deepwater field, one of the world’s largest oil discoveries in 2014.

Xodus’ environmental team will undertake a study for drilling activities in the Sangomar and Rufisque blocks on behalf of Cairn, operator of the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) blocks.

It will also perform an ESIA for the Phase 1 Development, comprising a floating production ship (FPSO) at the SNE field located in Sangomar Deep block, where Australian independent Woodside Energy is expected to become development operator.

Cairn has a 40% working interest in the RSSD joint venture, alongside partners Woodside (35%), another Australian firm FAR (15%), and Senegalese state Petrosen (10%). FAR though has contended that Conoco failed to follow correct pre-emption procedures when it sold its 35% stake to Woodside. Woodside said in June that FAR's referral of Conoco to an international arbitration tribunal risks delaying the SNE field development. 

Mark Smedley