Shell, McDermott, and Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Unlimited (TOFCO) hosted a ceremonial steel-cutting simulation this week at the TOFCO Yard, La Brea Industrial Estate. The event marked the start of local fabrication for the Manatee Project’s platform jacket, the largest of its kind to be built in Trinidad and Tobago.
According to Trinidad’s Energy Ministry, fabrication of the jacket and piles for the platform will officially begin in December 2024. This follows the first steel-cutting ceremony for the topside at McDermott’s Altamira Fabrication Yard in Mexico in July 2024, just a week after Shell announced the project’s final investment decision.
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“This has been my third visit to the TOFCO yard in the last month to view fabrication projects that were a direct outcome of government policy and strategy,” Energy Minister Stuart R. Young said. “The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will continue delivering world-class opportunities to La Brea, Point Fortin, and other communities in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Adam Lowmass, Senior Vice President and Country Chair of Shell, expressed confidence in the project. “At Shell, we are proud to partner with professional organizations like McDermott and TOFCO. We are confident that the Manatee Jacket will be completed on time and with high quality of craftsmanship and look forward to bringing this project online for Trinidad and Tobago.”
TOFCO General Manager Javed Mohammed highlighted the collaboration driving the project. “The journey ahead will be filled with challenges, but it is through our collaboration and perseverance that we will turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and success as we set new standards in offshore construction. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Thank you for your continuing support.”
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Manatee is located in Trinidad’s east coast marine area, a prolific gas-producing region that includes other Shell-operated fields like Dolphin and Starfish. The field is part of the Loran-Manatee discovery, which straddles the maritime border between Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela. Manatee holds approximately 2.7 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas on Trinidad’s side, with production expected to start in 2027 and peak at 604 million cubic feet per day.
