Having awarded the FPSO supply contract to global supplier and operator of offshore floating platforms, MODEC, in 2020, the unit’s hull and marine works, external turret, topsides module installation, and conversion work on the vessel were completed by Chinese offshore marine engineering company, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry, while the topsides modules were fabricated by botch COSCO and engineering, procurement, and construction company, BOMESC Offshore Engineering, in Tianjin, northern China, with the external turret mooring system having been fabricated by marine hydrocarbon equipment engineering services company, Penglai Jutal Offshore Engineering Heavy Industries.
“The Chinese yards achieved excellent safety performance throughout this phase of construction, logging more than 16 million hours of complex construction work without a lost-time injury event,” stated Woodside Energy CEO, Meg O’Neill, adding that, “The construction teams also successfully navigated the challenges posed by pandemic-related travel and logistical restrictions throughout 2021 and 2022, ensuring the FPSO remained on schedule for start-up at the Sangomar field in late 2023.”
Now approximately 70% complete, the Sangomar project represents Senegal’s first offshore oil development, with the Senegalese Government having approved the plan for the field development in 2020. Situated in water depths of roughly 1,100m and located approximately 100km south of Senegal’s capital of Dakar, the field – which has estimated recoverable resources of nearly 630 million barrels of oil – will include 23 wells and supporting subsea infrastructure with options for later expansion.
The Sangomar Field Development is operated by Woodside Energy, which holds an 82% interest, while the remaining interest is held by Senegal’s National Oil Company, Petrosen.
