COVID impact delaying Greater Tortue Ahmeyim FPSO

July 6, 2021
Costs for Phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project offshore Mauritania/Senegal could be 15% higher than originally expected, according to partner Kosmos Energy.

Offshore staff

DALLAS – Costs for Phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project offshore Mauritania/Senegal could be 15% higher than originally expected, according to partner Kosmos Energy.

bp has warned of an increase due to COVID-19 impacts, including a delay to the FPSO, and growth in scope of the development.

However, Phase 1 contractors have achieved various milestones, Kosmos reported in its latest results statement. These include:

  • FLNG vessel: The four remaining sponsons integrated in the final dry dock
  • FPSO: The living quarters have been installed
  • Breakwater: Five caissons transported offshore with the first installed
  • Subsea: All subsea trees manufactured.

EPCIC contractor TechnipFMC said a probable three-month delay to delivery of the FPSO is down to labor shortages at the COSCO yard in China, as activity ramps up following easing of COVID restrictions. This could set back first gas to 3Q 2023.

However, the FPSO sale and leaseback transaction should close shortly following finalization of the documentation between the governments and partners.

Work continues on Phase 2 of the GTA LNG project, with the partners targeting FID in late 2022.

Offshore Ghana, Kosmos is a partner in the Jubilee/TEN fields, where the first two wells of a new four-well campaign have been drilled, with completion operations now under way.

The first new Jubilee producer well (J-56P) should be online shortly followed by the new Jubilee injector well (J-55W) later in the current quarter. Together these wells should lift production by around 15,000-20,000 b/d.

Next the rig should drill and complete a TEN gas injector well and a second Jubilee producer, the latter expected to come online around year-end.

Reliability of both FPSOs continues to improve, with uptime at Jubilee and TEN averaging around 98% so far this year.

High levels of water injection (>200,000 b/d) and gas offtake from the government of Ghana (>110 MMcf/d) are also helping to optimize reservoir performance at Jubilee, supporting long-term production levels.

Off Equatorial Guinea, a drilling rig has started drilling the first of three infill wells planned for 2021. They should increase production by around 4,000 b/d.

In the US Gulf of Mexico, the first appraisal well on the Winterfell discovery is planned for the current quarter, and Kosmos has contracted a rig for the Zora infrastructure-led exploration well.

07/06/2021