Offshore construction is now underway on Suriname’s first major oil development, with Saipem launching operations for the GranMorgu project in Block 58.
The Italian engineering and offshore services company announced on June 23 that its multipurpose construction vessel, Normand Navigator, has arrived at the commercial port of Jules Sedney Harbour in Paramaribo and is preparing to begin preliminary activities for the offshore campaign.
GranMorgu, located about 150 kilometers offshore Suriname, is operated by TotalEnergies with a 40% stake, alongside APA Corporation (40%) and Staatsolie (20%). The development will target the Sapakara and Krabdagu discoveries and is expected to move Suriname closer to first oil by 2028.
Saipem was awarded the contract in 2024 to execute the project’s subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) package. The scope includes engineering, procurement, supply, construction, installation, pre-commissioning and support for commissioning and start-up activities.
According to the company, work will be carried out in water depths ranging from 100 meters to 1,100 meters.
“For the offshore campaign, Saipem will deploy a combination of S-Lay and J-Lay vessels, providing the optimal pipeline installation solution. To handle the significant volumes of equipment required for Saipem’s execution of the SURF package, the company is deploying a dual-marine base approach,” it said.
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The first hub is located at Jules Sedney Harbour, where Saipem has secured between 30,000 and 40,000 square meters of logistics space. The facility will be used to receive, handle and store pipes, equipment and containers before they are loaded onto vessels serving the offshore project.
The offshore campaign marks one of the first major construction phases for GranMorgu. Additional construction and support vessels are expected to join the project as activities accelerate toward production.
Once operational, the development will be centered on the floating production, storage and offloading vessel with a production capacity of up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d).
Saipem believes that “by utilizing local docks, material handling and transport networks, the subsea campaign will inject significant value directly into the Surinamese supply chain.”
