Sea Trucks Group Snares Ghana Project

Rotterdam, The Netherlands-based Sea Trucks Group has won a contract to build a construction support vessel to service the FPSO Kwame Nkrumahe vessel offshore Ghana.

The award from Tullow Ghana Ltd. includes accommodation for 120 personnel and the heavy lift of two 50-ton fairlead chain stopper foundation block structures as well as a 34-ton mooring pull-in winch and smaller fits.

Sea Trucks will use Jascon 28, one of its DP3 accommodation hookup vessels for both scopes, demonstrating the advantage of the vessel’s hybrid design configuration.

Operations are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter for a two-month period, with options to extend the contract up to 30 days.

Analysis: Increased Demand Will Pump Up FPSO Market To $117B

Increased demand and enhanced productivity will result in an FPSO market valued at $117 billion by 2024, Global Market Insights Inc. said in a new report.

Conversions will see gains of 18% compared to new construction during the forecast period, the report said. These vessels are expected to be deployed widely in both shallow offshore fields and deep water.

FPSO units account for 64% of the more than 260 offshore floating vessel units. Of the rest, semisubmersible units represent 15%, tension-leg platforms are 10%, production barges are 2% and production spars represent 8%.

Global Market Insights estimates the redeployed FPSO market to have been about $719 million in 2015 and expects it to gain more than 22.3%. This market reduces the execution timeline when compared with newly built units.

The report said that the market will be driven in the near term by increasing E&P activity in ultradeep offshore fields. The shift of E&P toward offshore fields has experienced a moderate growth rate.

Increasing exploration activities in ultradeep water of offshore fields will further compliment the industry in near terms.

Converted product accounted for more than 63% of global revenue in 2015, the report said. The deepwater segment accounted for more than 59% of global revenue share in 2015.

—Joseph Markman

Aqualis Offshore Lands Work Offshore Brazil

Aqualis Offshore has been awarded contracts to provide marine warranty services to three FPSO projects in presalt fields offshore Brazil, the company said in a news release. The values of the contracts were not disclosed.

Modec has appointed Aqualis Offshore to act as marine warranty surveyor for the integration of the MV29 FPSO at BrasFELS shipyard in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BrasFELS has appointed Aqualis Offshore to provide marine warranty services for the marine operations and departure of the P-66 and P-69 FPSOs that the BrasFELS shipyard is building for Petrobras.

Under the contracts, Aqualis Offshore said it will oversee loadouts, transportation and installation of modules and equipment, plus quayside mooring and tow to field. The work will be managed from Aqualis Offshore’s office in Rio de Janeiro.

Armada Olombendo FPSO Vessel Nears Sailaway

The Armada Olombendo FPSO vessel is getting closer to sailing to its final destination in Block 15/06 offshore Angola, where mooring and hookup work will begin for the East Hub Development Project, Eni said in a news release.

The news was delivered Oct. 14 when the company held a naming ceremony for the vessel in Singapore. Hydrocarbons from nine subsea wells, including five producers and four water injectors in water depths ranging from 450 m to 550 m (1,476 ft to 1,804 ft), will be carried via pipeline to the FPSO vessel. First oil from the project is expected by first-half 2017.

Partners in the joint venture include Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção with a 36.84% stake and SSI Fifteen Ltd. with a 26.32% stake. Eni, which serves as operator of the block, has a 36.84% stake.

SOFEC Lines Up Work For FSO Benchamas 2

MISC Offshore Floating Terminals Ltd. has turned to SOFEC Inc. to supply an external turret for the vessel that will be used for the floating storage and offloading (FSO) Benchamas 2 Project in the Gulf of Thailand.

Houston-based SOFIC said it will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the external turret including fabrication of the rigid arm supporting the turret head. It will be built in Malaysia.

“The turret will allow the FSO vessel to weathervane and continue operations in relatively high wind and wave environments,” SOFEC said in a news release. “This capability to weathervane significantly reduces vessel motions and accelerations and allows continual transfer of liquid hydrocarbons regardless of vessel heading.”

Plans are for the external turret to be delivered in November 2017.

The Chevron-led FSO Benchamas 2 project will replace the existing FSO. As described by SOFEC, the new FSO will be moored with nine anchor legs and connected to two 8-in. flexible risers for crude oil and one 6-in. flexible riser for fuel gas. Plans include reusing the existing pipeline end manifold and anchor legs, but the top chain will be replaced.

—Staff Reports