Fast4Ward FPSO hulls progressing despite COVID-19

May 14, 2020
SBM Offshore has provided updates on its FPSO construction programs.

Offshore staff

MONACOSBM Offshore has provided updates on its FPSO construction programs.

Shortly after the Fast4Ward MPF hull of the Liza Unity for the Liza field offshore Guyana arrived in Singapore in February it was moved into dry-dock for integration of the mooring structures and lifting of the first topsides modules onto the vessel.

Once the dry-dock phase is over, the hull will be transferred back to the integration quayside to complete topsides lifting and integration.

Due to COVID-19, yards in Singapore are currently closed, but yards in China have re-opened and are running near normal capacity, SBM says, following closure due to the Chinese New Year and COVID-19 restrictions.

The keel has been laid for the Fast4Ward MPF hull for the FPSO Sepetiba for the Sepia field offshore Brazil, and topsides fabrication has started in China and Brazil.

To date SBM has ordered five Fast4Ward hulls, three of which are allocated. The third of these is for the FPSO Prosperity for ExxonMobil’s Payara field development in the Staborek block offshore Guyana, although that project remains subject to government approvals and authorization to proceed with the next phase.

Construction has started on hull number four and is progressing in accordance with SBM’s execution plan.

As for the company’s offshore vessel fleet, various cases of COVID-19 have been identified, but the response plans have been effective to date, in some cases supported by deep decontamination measures.

SBM is charging the incremental costs from implementation of these additional measures to clients in the case of reimbursable contracts. Otherwise costs are being borne by the relevant operating companies in which SBM has an ownership stake.

The 100%-owned Thunder Hawk semisubmersible production platform was temporarily shut down due to COVID-19 impacts at the end of April.

05/14/2020