Double the capacity of the Liza Destiny FPSO, the Liza Unity – the vessel that will begin producing oil at Guyana’s second offshore development – is SBM Offshore’s first generic Multi-Purpose Floater (MPF1) hull in its series of hulls currently under construction.
The vessel at peak will be producing 220,000 barrels of oil per day in addition to the Liza Destiny’s 120,000 barrels per day. At full capacity for both floaters, Guyana will be producing around 340,000 bpd by 2022.
“This first, new build hull was completed by Chinese yard SWS in December and is part of our industry-changing, Fast4Ward® program. The hull’s arrival [in Singapore] represents a significant milestone on the path to delivering the Company’s first standardized FPSO,” the Dutch company says.
The hull was completed in less than two years from first steel cut in March 2018 and arrived at the Keppel shipyard in Singapore on January 13 where deck modules will be installed.
The MPF1 hull was allocated following Final Investment Decision (FID) by ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC in May 2019 for the Liza Phase 2 Development project at the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. ExxonMobil is operator with 45% interest. Hess has a 30% stake and CNOOC holds 25%.
“This milestone is in line with our client’s project schedule, which targets Liza Phase 2 start-up in early 2022,” stated SBM Offshore.
In May 2019, SBM Offshore was awarded contracts for the next phase of the Liza field development. Under these contracts, SBM Offshore will construct, install and thereafter lease and operate for up to two years the Liza Unity.
This followed completion of front-end engineering studies, receipt of requisite government approvals and the final investment decision (FID) on the project by ExxonMobil and the Stabroek Block co-venturers.
The Liza Unity FPSO design is based on the Fast4Ward® program with a new build, multi-purpose hull combined with several standardized topsides modules.
SBM Offshore says Basic Design Approval for the FPSO has been given by both Bureau Veritas and ABS.
The FPSO will have associated gas treatment capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 250,000 barrels per day. The FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,600 meters and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil which is the double the capacity of the Liza Destiny FPSO.
