Keppel Shipyard Ltd. has confirmed the award of two FPSO conversion contracts worth a combined value of US $152 million, as expected.

The highest-profile contract is the previously revealed FPSO for SBM Offshore, to be used on Shell’s ultra-deepwater Stones project in the US Gulf (see DI, 1 August 2013, page 7). The other is for M3nergy Offshore Ltd.

SBM’s FPSO will, once installed, be the deepest production facility in the world, as well as the deepest FPSO with a disconnectable buoy (Buoyant Turret Mooring), said Keppel. The yard’s workscope for Stones includes refurbishment and life extension works; upgrading of living quarters; fabrication and installation of the internal disconnectable buoy BTM system and topside module supports; as well as the installation and integration of topside modules.

The FPSO design has a processing facility capacity of 60,000 b/d and 15 MMcf/d of gas treatment and export. The converted Suezmax tanker will be able to store 800,000 bbl of crude oil and its total topsides weight will reach 7,000 tones. The BTM will be configured with Steel Lazy-Wave Risers (SLWR), which will be a first application for a disconnectable FPSO.

SBM’s initial contract period is for 10 years, with future extension options up to a total of 20 years. The development is located in 2,896 m (9,500 ft) of water in the Walker Ridge area.

The M3nergy Offshore contract is to convert an FPSO for the Bukit Tua field. For this project, Keppel will undertake refurbishment and life extension works; fabrication and installation of new structures, piping systems, spread-mooring system; upgrading of the living quarters; as well as the installation and integration of the topsides process modules.

Scheduled for completion in Q2 2014, the FPSO has been chartered by PC Ketapang II Ltd. for its operations in the Bukit Tua field, north of Madura Island offshore Indonesia. The FPSO will have a production capacity of up to 25,000 b/d of liquids and a storage capacity of up to 630,000 bbl.

- DI has also previously reported that Shell is already examining conceptual plans for a second FPSO for Stones in a later phase (see DI, 20 May 2013, page 1). If that materialises, SBM would once again be in pole position to supply the unit via an existing global agreement it has in place with Shell for FPSOs.

Offshore