From Australia (RW): First oil has been produced ahead of schedule at Santos’ Fletcher-Finucane fields (29/15) in the Carnarvon Basin, offshore Western Australia The A$490mn project was originally due onstream in the second half of this year after it received final go-ahead in January.

The field is producing 15,000b/d through three subsea wells tied into the Modec Venture 11 fpso which processes production from the Santos’ Mutineer-Exeter fields 17km to the west.

Fletcher was discovered in 2007, while Finucane was found 7km further south in mid-2011. The fields lie 150km north of Dampier in 130-160m. Total proved and probable oil reserves are put at 14mmbbls.

The development wells were drilled by the semi Nan Hai VI in mid-2012.

In January 2012, Subsea 7 was awarded a $60mn SURF contract for the installation of 55km of flexible flowlines and 60km of umbilicals linking the two fields to the existing fpso.

In March, Technip picked up the supply contract for 31km of 9in and 10in flexible pipe and 22km of 3in service line. The pipe came from Technip’s plant in Malaysia.

S-7 earmarked its dsv Rockwater 2 for the installation of the manifolds at both fields along with the flexible flowlines and the plem at Mutineer.

The project effectively extends the life of Mutineer/Exeter which have been onstream for a number of years. Santos is also hoping to extend the reserves still further with the drilling of the Vanuatu prospect on the same permit, hopefully later this year.