Aibel awarded major FPSO contract

MODEC, a leading provider of floating solutions for the global offshore oil and gas industry, has awarded Aibel a Letter of Intent (LOI) in connection with MODEC’s supply of a new-built FPSO to Equinor for the Bacalhau field in Brazil.

Bacalhau FPSO Illustration MODEC
The Bacalhau FPSO. Illustration: MODEC

The Letter of Intent covers a FEED phase for management and basic engineering services with option for an EPC contract including detail engineering, bulk procurement and construction of approx. 20,000 tons topside modules for the giant FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) vessel.

The complete FPSO, to be delivered by MODEC, will be one of the world’s largest FPSOs, and the largest FPSO ever delivered to Brazil with a production capacity of up to 220,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The FPSO vessel will be deployed at the Bacalhau field (formerly Carcará) located in the giant pre-salt region of the Santos Basin approx. 185 kilometres off the coast of the state of São Paolo.

“This is an important recognition of our international FPSO expertise in Singapore and Thailand. We have a long track record of delivering world-class FPSO topsides and modules. With this major project, we are looking forward to further develop the good and long-established relationships we have with both MODEC and end-client Equinor, and at the same time prove ourselves worthy of the trust we are given,” says President and CEO in Aibel, Mads Andersen.

The project will be managed from Aibel’s Singapore office, where Aibel and MODEC will establish an integrated project team. Aibel’s engineering office in Thailand will assist with detail engineering. Construction of the 20,000 tons modules will take place at Aibel’s recently expanded and upgraded yard facilities in Laem Chabang, Thailand.

As a result of the contract, Aibel will now strengthen and expand its engineering organisation in Singapore.

“Over the years, our Singapore office has developed solid expertise within the FPSO field from early concept and study to final execution, and therefore it has become a hub for our strategic focus on the international FPSO market. We see a major potential in this market, and with this contract and a significant expansion of the office, we will put ourselves in a favourable position for future contracts,” says EVP Field Development and Offshore Wind in Aibel, Nils Arne Hatleskog.

Engineering work starts up immediately at the Singapore office. Scheduled start-up of prefabrication for the topside modules is set for Q2 2021. After completion, the topside modules will be transported to Singapore for integration on board the hull, which will be built in China.