OILMIN, PNG’S LEADING FIELD SERVICE PROVIDER

Angore development is a plus for PNG — Santos executive

Santos is in a strong position with the announcement of the next tranche of backfill gas to maintain PNG LNG production and the final investment decision on the Angore Development project.

According to Brett Darley, Santos President for Upstream Oil and Gas, who spoke at the recent Australia PNG Business Forum in Brisbane, the first gas from Angore is expected in 2024, and Santos’ share of capital expenditure would be around US$135 million (K475.3m).

On the tail of a worldwide epidemic, he added, these drilling efforts will be a huge boost for the sector and economy, as Santos looks to expand its resource portfolio.

“In addition to progress being made on the Angore Development project, we have seen strong performance from the Agogo and Moran fields.

“A coiled tubing campaign commenced in the fourth quarter of last year in those fields, which will deliver incremental production in 2022,” he said.

“Papua LNG, a project that has the potential to be nation shaping for decades to come, continues to progress technical and commercial, regulatory, social, and environmental activities.

“These pre-FEED activities remain on track in support of a FEED-entry decision that is targeted to be made by the end of this year.”

Mr. Darley stated that, given the present supply shortage in the global LNG market, initiatives like Papua LNG are becoming increasingly important for global energy security and affordability.

“We are continuing to work hard with our joint venture partners to progress this project which will create local jobs in Papua New Guinea, drive economic development, and create revenues for the government.

“The other growth project that we are working hard on is P’nyang, with the P’nyang Gas Agreement being successfully executed between the PRL3 joint venture partners and the PNG government earlier this year,” he said.

“We are working hard on the integration of the Oil Search business, on delivering on our commitments, and on ensuring the growth project and opportunities that are so important to PNG to continue on schedule and on budget.”

SANTOS WELCOMES NEW APPRENTICES TO HIGHER-LEVEL PROGRAM

Santos is helping to equip Papua New Guinea’s next generation of oil and gas technicians with international qualifications.

Ten females are among 25 novices who have joined the Santos 2022 Apprenticeship Program following a rigorous selection process that will see them train at the Institut Teknologi Petroleum Petronas (INSTEP) in Malaysia – 900 applications were received for the 2022 Program.

Upon completion of the technician training at INSTEP, the apprentices will earn a Pearson Business Education Technology Council Level 2 and Level 3 UK qualification.

Santos Country Chair for PNG, Leon Buskens when welcoming the apprentices, said: “You have joined at an exciting time following the merger between Oil Search and Santos. As the inaugural batch under the merged entity, there are greater opportunities for you to advance in all aspects of your career both in PNG and abroad. I encourage you to do your best and importantly, maintain a positive attitude and uphold your values - this is what will take you far on this journey.

“This is the beginning, but you should be proud of yourselves as we are of you for making it this far. Congratulations and welcome to Santos.”

Joining Mr. Buskens to address the new cohort were pioneering trainees Cornelius Soagai, Senior Government Affairs Manager, and Lydia Warubi, Deputy Occupational Health & Safety Manager.

Mr. Soagai went on to become the first national Production Manager in the Operations and Maintenance Department while Ms. Warubi made waves as the first national female process technician to work at the Central Processing Facility.

Both leaders encouraged the apprentices to maximize the career development opportunities available to them at Santos. Among the cohort was Judy Sasa who