Pétrole sénégalais : Sangomar amorce une phase de déclin de sa production
The Sangomar oil field is entering a phase of declining production. In September 2026, three (3) cargoes of crude oil were shipped and sold, for a total volume of 2.94 million barrels, according to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum's monthly report published this Friday, October 9.
This volume is down compared to last August, during which 2.97 million barrels were traded. In January, the volumes shipped and sold on the international market reached 3.8 million barrels.
"The production plateau has begun a downward trend."
This change in sales volumes, however, does not, on its own, allow us to measure the decline in production from the field. But, in its monthly report published this Friday, October 9, 2026, the department headed by Abdourahmane Diouf nevertheless confirmed the downward trend, indicating that "the production plateau has begun a downward inflection, due to a decline in daily production."
The production plateau refers to the period during which an oil or gas field maintains its production at a relatively stable and high level. In Sangomar, this phase is now giving way to a downward trend.
"We are in a phase of decline" (Woodside CEO)
On August 26, Liz Westcott, president and CEO of Woodside, had already acknowledged this trend. "Sangomar remains a particularly high-performing asset for us and, as we can see, we are in a phase of decline," she told the press.
However, she emphasized that "the deposit continues to show exceptional performance, with a high reliability rate."
What the decline in production from a deposit means
The decline in production from an oil field corresponds to a gradual decrease in the volumes extracted. This can result, in particular, from changes in reservoir pressure and a decrease in well flow rates.
In its report covering the first half of 2026, Woodside had already indicated this trend. The company announced an average daily production of 99,000 barrels, based on 100% of the project, with an operational reliability rate of 99.5%.
The reservoir's performance exceeded expectations, notably thanks to "greater than expected aquifer pressure support".
This phenomenon, combined with rigorous optimization of wells and the production network, had until now "made it possible to extend the initial production plateau and mitigate the rate of decline, now observed," the report stated.
In simpler terms, these measures undertaken by the operator have made it possible to maintain production at a high level for a longer period and to limit the rate of its decline, without preventing the deposit from entering a phase of decline.
Phase 2 could be good news
This drop in production could weigh on the volumes of oil available for sale and, consequently, on the revenue that Senegal derives from the exploitation of the deposit.
In this context, phase 2 of Sangomar, under discussion for possible development, could help to extend the productive life of the project or to support future volumes.
Regarding this project, Liz Westcott had mentioned discussions with Petrosen and the Senegalese government. "These discussions are important as we consider moving forward with possible further developments," she said in August.
For now, nothing has been officially agreed between the Senegalese authorities and the oil company.
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Pas besoin de parler autant de ce pétrole pour si peu encaissé
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