Singapore’s Seatrium, previously known as Sembcorp Marine, has delivered a floating production unit (FPU) to Shell, destined for deployment in the Gulf of Mexico.
The completed Whale FPU comprises a topside module and a four-column semisubmersible floating hull, of over 22,000 tonnes.
Sembcorp Marine Rigs & Floaters won the contract with Shell for the FPU for the Whale field in November 2019.
According to Seatrium, enabled by the Goliath twin cranes with a combined 30,000-tonne lifting capacity and a 100-meter hook height, the integration of the Whale FPU topside and hull in one single lift is a major milestone achievement.
“We are delighted to have successfully delivered the Whale FPU project, which marks a significant milestone in our journey as we continue to expand our footprint in the offshore market. We are committed to providing innovative and comprehensive solutions for a diverse range of offshore and marine applications,” said Chris Ong , CEO of Seatrium.
Whale, discovered in 2017, is located in the Alaminos Canyon Block 773, approximately 200 miles southwest of Houston.
The development is owned by Shell Offshore (60% operator) and Chevron U.S.A. (40%). It is expected to reach peak production of approximately 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) and currently has an estimated, recoverable resource volume of 490 million boe.
Shell recently signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Seatrium for another FPU that will be deployed at a deepwater project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Seatrium explained that the Sparta FPU is conceived as a replicable project between the companies to leverage its topside single lift integration methodology, following the Vito and Whale newbuild facilities. The final contract award is subject to a final investment decision (FID) for the project.