Preliminary work on Dragon gas project has begun

Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries release

On 11th October 2024, Dr. The Honourable Keith C. Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and The Honourable Stuart R. Young S.C., M.P. Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister along with representatives from Shell and the National Gas Company visited the Dona Jose 2 vessel at Tembladora Port, Chaguaramas.

The Dona Jose 2 vessel, chartered by Geohidra, a Venezuelan company contracted by Shell, will undertake a geophysical and geotechnical survey from the Dragon Field to the Shell operated Hibiscus Platform, to acquire data with the vessel’s side scan sonar, multibeam echo sounder and other survey technology onboard.

This first phase of the project is small but critical as it represents the first physical work to be done by Shell on the Dragon Field. These subsea surveys will allow Shell to collect technical data to assess the status of existing infrastructure and technical data to support the design of new facilities to be installed as well as the design and routing for the installation of a 22km pipeline from the Dragon subsea field to the Shell operated Hibiscus platform, pending Final Investment Decision.

The Dragon Gas Project is projected to export gas from the Dragon Field in Venezuela to Shell’s Hibiscus platform off Trinidad and Tobago’s North Coast. The commencement of the geotechnical surveys to be undertaken by the Dona Jose 2 comes at an accelerated speed of only ten months after Trinidad and Tobago received a 30-year licence to explore, produce and export gas from the Venezuelan Dragon Field to Trinidad and Tobago.

This project has resulted in an unprecedented degree of collaboration among the National Gas Company, Shell, several local and international service companies and agencies representing Trinidad and Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela respectively. It should also be noted that this project has already started adding value to Trinidad and Tobago’s economy as several local companies are supporting this project in various services such as port and marine logistics, hotels and taxis, marine fuel and medical support.

At the visit, Dr. The Honourable Keith C. Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago stated that government policies support the idea of managing the science of climate change and reminded the parties to be clean, safe and profitable.

The Honourable Stuart R. Young S.C., M.P. Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister noted that the monetization of the Dragon Gas Field will benefit every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago as the money earned from our energy sector significantly contributes to the maintenance and operation of Trinidad and Tobago’s hospitals, schools, transportation and utilities.

Also present at the visit were Dr. Joseph Khan, Chairman National Energy; Verlier Quan-Vie, Vice President Commercial, National Gas Company; Mr. Adam Lowmass, Senior Vice President and Country Chair Trinidad and Tobago, Shell; and Mr. Elias Nucette, General Manager Venezuela, Shell.