Japanese company MODEC has identified a Chinese shipyard to provide the hull and living quarters for the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel that will serve ExxonMobil’s Uaru field offshore Guyana, according to upstreamonline.com.
Though a contract is yet to be awarded, Asian contracting sources said MODEC is in advanced talks with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) for a commercial deal covering engineering, procurement and construction for the hull, using the M350 standardised hull design that the pair developed together, the December 28th report said.
ExxonMobil has used SBM Offshore for the first four FPSO deals for Liza-1, Liza-2, Payara and Yellowtail. The Singaporean shipyard Keppel has undertaken works for the FPSOs. However in November this year, ExxonMobil announced that it had selected MODEC for its 5th FPSO.
It was MODEC which shared the news that it had reached a contract agreement with the US oil major to perform FEED services for the FPSO vessel for ExxonMobil’s Uaru oil field development project in the Stabroek Block.
“MODEC, Inc. (“MODEC”) is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract to perform Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) for the “Uaru” development project. The FEED contract award relates to the initial funding by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to begin FEED activities related to the FPSO design and to secure the second M350TM hull for FPSO service,” a release from the company stated.
“Following FEED and subject to government approvals in Guyana of the development plan, project sanction including final investment decision by ExxonMobil, and EEPGL’s release of the second phase (EPCI) of work, MODEC is expected to construct the FPSO and install in Guyana,” it added.
