Adrian Cook, CEO of Carnarvon
Australia’s Dorado oilfield set for 2026 startup
The field is one of more than 100 potential prospects in the Bedout basin, says Carnarvon CEO Adrian Cook
The Dorado oilfield in Western Australia’s (WA’s) Bedout basin is on track for FID this year and first production in early 2026, Adrian Cook, CEO of Australian independent Carnarvon, tells Petroleum Economist. The field will initially produce 75,000-100,000bl/d and would pay back its capital investment within 12 months at current oil prices, he continues. That expected quick return on investment is a major benefit for Dorado. And global concerns about security of fuel supply will also help the development, Cook says. Dorado will use a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, and its crude is likely to go to Singaporean refineries as BP has closed the Kwinana refinery near P
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
