Netherlands-based FPSO operator SBM Offshore announces that it has been awarded contracts for the GranMorgu field development project located in Block 58 in Suriname by the Operator, TotalEnergies EP Suriname B.V., an affiliate of TotalEnergies.
Under these contracts, SBM Offshore will, in partnership with Technip Energies, construct and install a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). The award follows completion of front-end engineering and design studies, and the final investment decision on the project by the Joint Venture operated by TotalEnergies EP Suriname B.V. SBM Offshore is expected to operate the unit under an operations and maintenance agreement.
The GranMorgu project is the first development within Block 58, circa 150 kilometers offshore Suriname. TotalEnergies is the operator holding a 50 percent interest in Block 58, alongside APA Corporation. Staatsolie has announced its intent to exercise its option to enter the development project with up to 20% interest.
The FPSO will be the first large deepwater project development in Suriname with an expected production capacity of up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day and associated gas treatment capacity of up to 500 million cubic feet per day. The FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 400 meters and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil. First oil is expected in 2028.
Thanks to the joint expertise of Technip Energies and SBM Offshore, this all-electric drive FPSO will also be designed to eliminate routine flaring, in line with TotalEnergies objectives and SBM Offshore’s goal to deliver carbon efficient units.
Øivind Tangen, CEO of SBM Offshore commented: “Extending our Fast4Ward® value proposition to TotalEnergies supports our client’s fast-track development strategy for Block 58. This award demonstrates the strength of SBM’s cost-effective and low emission deepwater offering and calls on our proven track record in time-to-market. By entering Suriname, we are delivering on our strategy to advance our core and pioneer more. ”
This FPSO may be built in China. Chinese shipyards and SBM Offshore have been cooperating for many years. According to foreign media sources, SBM Offshore is about to sign a contract with a Chinese shipyard to build the hull and topsides of this FPSO.
On November 14, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) signed the delivery of the fifth 2.3 million barrels Fast4Ward FPSO Jaguar for SBM Offshore. SWS has already delivered five Fast4Ward FPSO hulls for SBM Offshore, with the previous four to be delivered in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
In addition, M026 FPSO, the first cooperation between COSCO SHIPPING (Qidong) Offshore and SBM Offshore, has been completed and christened, and will be delivered soon. COSCO SHIPPING (Qidong) Offshore is responsible for the design and construction of the 15 topside modules of this FPSO, as well as the assembly, integration and commissioning of the whole FPSO.
On August 1 this year, the FPSO built for SBM Offshore at China Merchants Heavy Industries Haimen shipyard (CMHI Haimen shipyard) was officially delivered. This FPSO also adopts SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward general-purpose hull design, and is the first high-end FPSO project undertaken by CMHI that integrates hull construction, module construction and integration and commissioning.