Valeura Energy Inc. intends to accelerate redevelopment work at the Wassana field on block G10/48 in the offshore Gulf of Thailand, where it holds a 100% operated interest. The company says the earlier schedule will bring forward central processing platform installation and related drilling activity, while increasing its 2026 spending guidance to US$220 - 235 million from US$195 - 215 million.
#Central processing platform schedule
Dr. Sean Guest, Valeura’s President and CEO, said construction of the new central processing platform, or CPP, is progressing within budget. Mechanical completion at the construction yard is expected by 01 October 2026.
Valeura has completed the commercial arrangements and contractual amendments it says are needed to begin installing the CPP in October 2026. The planned installation is approximately two months earlier than originally envisaged. The company said this creates the potential for first oil from the new development at approximately the beginning of Q2 2027.
These timetable statements are forward-looking expectations from Valeura. The company says actual results may differ and identifies approvals, operational safety, equipment availability, drilling schedules, facility performance, weather, market conditions and other factors as relevant uncertainties.
#Drilling programme
Valeura has notified its drilling rig contractor that the charter of the Shelf Enterprise drilling rig is scheduled to begin on 01 November 2026. The rig is initially intended to drill Nong Yao wells through additional well slots at the Nong Yao A facility, before supporting earlier development drilling at Wassana.
The company’s work programmes and budgets are partly based on expected agreement among joint venture partners and related exploration, development and marketing plans. Those plans and their anticipated costs and sales prices may change because of drilling results, the availability of drilling, offshore storage and offloading facilities, specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, changes in partners’ plans, unexpected delays and market conditions.
#Updated 2026 spending guidance
Valeura says the Wassana redevelopment remains on budget. However, accelerating the project and associated drilling is expected to create additional 2026 spending, mainly because some expenditure is moving from the 2027 budget into 2026.
The company’s revised full-year 2026 Adjusted capex guidance, including exploration spending, is US$220 - 235 million, compared with previous guidance of US$195 - 215 million. Valeura defines Adjusted capex as a non-IFRS measure covering additions in capital expenditure for capital work-in-progress, drilling, brownfield and other PP&E. The measure does not have a standardised meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards.
#Expected production impact
Valeura states that the new CPP has an anticipated production plateau rate of approximately 7,500 bbls/d. On that basis, the company anticipates that starting up the redevelopment two months earlier could produce approximately 430,000 bbls of additional oil in 2027 compared with the original project plan.
This is a company forecast rather than a completed production outcome. Valeura says it depends on assumptions including future production rates, well and facility performance, drilling timelines, approvals, commodity prices, operating conditions and the availability of required capital and equipment.
#Wassana redevelopment background
Valeura took a final investment decision in 2025 to redevelop Wassana using a new-build CPP. The stated objective is to commercialise more oil volumes than would be possible through the existing mobile offshore production unit, known as the MOPU Ingenium.
The MOPU Ingenium is due for decommissioning at approximately the end of 2027. Valeura says the redevelopment has increased total anticipated recoverable oil volumes and extended the anticipated end of the field’s economic life.
The CPP has also been designed to allow potential tie-ins from additional satellite production facilities to the north and south of Wassana. Recent mapping south of the field identified significant additional oil volumes, and Valeura is reviewing exploration drilling options to assess that potential. The company’s statements about these volumes and future facilities remain subject to the uncertainties set out in its announcement.
#Risks and conditions
Valeura cautions that exploration, appraisal and development of oil and natural gas reserves and resources are speculative activities. The company says its forward-looking information may prove incorrect and identifies risks involving drilling and work-programme delays, government and regulatory approvals, specialised equipment and personnel, supply-chain disruption, weather and natural disasters, currency fluctuations, interest rates, oil and gas prices, laws and regulations, joint venture partner plans, financing, facility capacity and reliability, and the ability to meet commitments and financial obligations.
Further terms, conditions, contingencies and risks apply to the transaction and project plans beyond those set out here.
#Key Takeaways
- Valeura Energy intends to accelerate redevelopment of the Wassana field in block G10/48, offshore Thailand.
- CPP mechanical completion is expected by 01 October 2026, with installation planned for October 2026.
- The Shelf Enterprise drilling rig charter is scheduled to start on 01 November 2026, beginning with Nong Yao wells.
- Full-year 2026 Adjusted capex guidance has been revised to US$220 - 235 million from US$195 - 215 million.
- Valeura anticipates approximately 430,000 bbls of additional 2027 oil production against the original project plan if the two-month acceleration is achieved.
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