Woodside Approves Investment in Trion Development
Woodside has made a final investment decision to develop the large, high-quality Trion resource in Mexico. The expected returns from the development exceed Woodside’s capital allocation framework targets and deliver enduring shareholder value. First oil is targeted for 2028.
The development is subject to joint venture approval and regulatory approval of the field development plan (FDP), expected in the fourth quarter of 2023. Woodside is operator with a 60% participating interest and PEMEX Exploración y Producción (PEMEX) holds the remaining 40%
The forecast total capital expenditure is US$7.2 billion (US$4.8 billion Woodside share including capital carry of PEMEX of approximately US$460 million) with the development expected to deliver strong returns to Woodside shareholders as well as economic and social benefits to Mexico. 1
The investment is expected to deliver an internal rate of return (IRR) greater than 16% with a payback period of less than four years.2 The forecast IRR excluding the capital carry is greater than 19%.
The project will target the development of an estimated 479 MMboe of Best Estimate (2C) Contingent Resource (100%) of oil and gas (287 MMboe 2C Contingent Resources, Woodside net economic interest).3 The subsurface has been extensively appraised, with six well penetrations undertaken across the field, informing Woodside’s understanding of this large, high-quality conventional resource
The resource will be developed through a floating production unit (FPU) with an oil production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day. The FPU will be connected to a floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel with a capacity of 950,000 barrels of oil.
Woodside’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets remain unchanged by the decision to approve investment in Trion. 4,5 The starting base for this target will not be adjusted as a result of the investment decision.
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said Trion is an attractive addition to Woodside’s portfolio of high-quality producing assets in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Trion is a valuable resource with a mature development concept. Our strong balance sheet and disciplined approach enable us to invest in opportunities such as Trion, expanding our global portfolio and delivering long-term value.
“The investment is aligned with Woodside’s strategy, exceeds Woodside’s capital allocation framework targets and will be a strong contributor to Woodside’s cash flows, shareholder returns and the funding of future developments in oil, gas and new energy.
“This development leverages Woodside’s proven expertise in deepwater project execution. The project’s tendering process has resulted in approximately 70% of total forecast capital expenditure as lump sum or fixed rates, with key contracts to be progressively executed following joint venture approval.
“Trion has an expected carbon intensity of 11.8 kgCO2-e/boe average over the life of the field, which is lower than the global deepwater oil average, and will be subject to Woodside’s corporate net equity Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction targets. 6
“We have considered a range of oil demand forecasts and believe Trion can help satisfy the world’s energy requirements. Two-thirds of the Trion resource is expected to be produced within the first 10 years after start-up.
“We are developing Trion because we believe it will deliver value for Woodside shareholders and benefit for Mexico, including generation of jobs, taxation revenue and social benefit. We value the ongoing relationship with PEMEX and the support of the Mexican Government and regulators,” she said.
Energy transition
IPCC analysis shows there are a range of future energy transition pathways, including pathways which are consistent with limiting global temperature rise to less than 1.5°C and require new supply sources to meet demand. 7 Consideration of a range of climate-related factors as a part of the Trion investment decision gives Woodside confidence that Trion can responsibly fill that demand.
The range of climate-related factors includes project Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, portfolio Scope 1, 2 and 3 lifecycle intensity, climate related risks and opportunities assessed in accordance with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, demand resilience including 1.5°C pathways and portfolio free cash flow resilience across the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario.
Woodside believes that Trion is resilient in a decarbonising world, because of several factors including its forecast short payback period of less than four years, the fact that two-thirds of the resource is expected to be produced within 10 years from start-up, portfolio free cash flow resilience in the IEA NZE scenario and it having an expected all-in breakeven less than US$50/bbl.8,9 Trion is expected to have a carbon intensity of 11.8 kgCO2-e/boe over the life of the field, below the global deepwater oil average of 15 kgCO2-e/boe and global oil average of 27 kgCO2-e/boe averaged over the period 2022 to 2032. 10
1* Woodside share assumes Woodside equity of 60% in Trion. Total capital expenditure excludes the forecast lease amount for the floating storage and offloading unit (FSO).
2* Forecast IRR and payback period assume Woodside equity of 60% in Trion; includes capital carry of approximately US$460m of capital expenditure for PEMEX (at Woodside’s final investment decision). IRR and the payback period are a look forward from June 2023 and assume US$70/bbl (real terms 2022) Brent oil price. Payback period is calculated from undiscounted cash flows, RFSU + approximately 4 years.
3* The first potential reserves booking, and reclassification of Best Estimate (2C) Contingent Resources to Proved plus Probable (2P) Reserves for the Trion development will only occur following, and is subject to, joint venture approval and regulatory approval of the FDP. Please refer to “Notes to petroleum resource estimates” for additional detail, including additional information for US investors concerning the presentation of resource estimates.
4* Net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 30% by 2030 and net zero aspiration by 2050 or sooner. Target is for net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, relative to a starting base representative of the gross annual average equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions over 2016-2020 and may be adjusted (up or down) for potential equity changes in producing or sanctioned assets with a final investment decision prior to 2021.
5* Emissions resulting from Trion are subject to Woodside’s net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and its net zero aspiration. These emissions will be managed in accordance with Woodside’s decarbonisation strategy using the plans and practices disclosed in Woodside’s Climate Report 2022. See sections 3.5 and 3.6 of Woodside’s Climate Report 2022 for further information.
6* Wood Mackenzie Emissions Benchmarking Tool. The global deepwater oil average is 15 kgCO2-e/boe and global oil average is 27 kgCO2-e/boe averaged over the period 2022 to 2032. 7 For further information, please refer to slide 10 of the supporting presentation, titled ‘Global oil demand through the energy transition’.
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