SBM’s revamped N’Goma FPSO has arrived at an Angolan shipyard for final outfitting before going into deepwater service, a significant moment for the West African country’s offshore capabilities development.

The floater sailed into the Paenel shipyard in Port Amboim in mid-June after a journey from Singapore. Two of the pre-assembled topside units for the FPSO—a sulphate removal package and a hot oil pump—have been built at the Porto Amboim Estaleiros Navais (Paenel) yard, which was previously established as a joint venture (JV) between SBM Offshore, Sonangol and Singapore’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME).

The floating production vessel is being renamed and redeployed after operating as the FPSO Xikomba production unit in Block 15 offshore Angola for eight years. After completion, the ship will be capable of producing up to 100,000 bbl/d of oil and handling up to 115 MMcf/d of gas, as well as 120,000 bbl/d of water injection.

Eni will operate the N’Goma field as part of the deepwater West Hub area development in block 15/06 offshore Angola (see DI, 7 April, 2014, page 6) which is due onstream this year. It will produce an estimated 200 MMbbl of recoverable oil from the Sangos, N’Goma and Cinguvu discoveries via 16 wells—10 producers and six water injectors—tied back to the FPSO. Associated gas from the area is to be reinjected. Peak production from West Hub is forecast at up to 80,000 bbl/d.

During its second productive life offshore Angola the FPSO will be operated by OPS, another JV between SBM and Sonangol.

Offshore