Sembcorp Marine secures FPSO contract for project offshore Angola

Sembcorp Marine’s wholly-owned subsidiary Sembawang Shipyard has secured a Floating Storage Production Offloading (FPSO) conversion contract worth about SGD 600 million from Saipem SA, France for the conversion of two FPSOs for Total’s Kaombo Project in Offshore Angola.

Sembawang Shipyard was awarded this milestone contract on the strength of its capabilities and established track record in the field of FPSO conversion, modification and upgrading work. Under the contract, the shipyard is responsible for the conversion of two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) sister ships into two turret-moored FPSOs for the Kaombo project located in offshore Angola, approximately 150 km from the coast.

Major works planned

Major works also include refurbishment of the VLCCs, construction engineering, the fabrication of flare, helideck, upper turret and access structure, integration of the topsides modules (which will be fabricated at Saipem’s Indonesian Yard) and lower turret components, and pre-commissioning of the FPSOs. The two converted FPSO units, owned by Total, will each have an oil treating capacity of 115 000 bpd, a water injection capacity of 200 000 bpd, a 100 million ft³/d gas compression capacity and a storage capacity of 1.7 million bbls of oil.

The first VLCC, Olympia, is expected to enter Sembawang Shipyard in Q3, 2014 while the second VLCC, Antarctica, will be in the Shipyard in Q1, 2015. The total project duration will be 32 months.

Kaombo offshore development

The Kaombo offshore development currently in development in Angola is based on the use of the state-of-the-art ‘hybrid loop’ technology for multiphase pumping and transport of fluids.

Total is operator with a 30% interest on Block 32. The other partners are Sonangol (20%), China Sonangol Petroleum (20%), Exxon (15%), Marathon Oil (10%) and Galp (5%).

The Kaombo project will be the block’s first development. Plans call for the production of several oil deposits scattered among the Gindungo, Gengibre, Canela, Mostarda, Louro, Salsa and Caril fields in the central and southeastern sections of the block, in water depths of 1400 - 1900 m.

The development plan is still under study. It will centre on the hybrid loop configuration, an innovative technology for multiphase pumping and transport of the fluids. Two FPSO vessels will be deployed, each with a capacity of 100 000 bpd.

A flagship project in a country of strategic importance for Total, Kaombo will secure the sustainable growth of Angola’s offshore resources through the mastery of state-of-the art technologies.

Kaombo will mark a turning point in Total’s local presence and industrial partnership with Angola, with an unprecedented level of local content.

Adapted from a press release by David Bizley

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/21072014/sembcorp-marine-secures-fpso-contract-for-kaombo-project-offshore-angola/