Seatrium Limited has delivered the floating production unit (FPU) Whale for deployment in the Gulf of Mexico, in line with the contract signed in November 2019 with Shell Offshore Inc.
The Whale FPU comprises a topside module and a four-column semisubmersible floating hull with a capacity of over 22,000 metric tons, Seatrium said in a recent news release, adding that the hull structure was fabricated in the company’s state-of-the-art steel fabrication facility, powered by renewable solar energy, resulting in reduced carbon emissions during the construction process.
The Whale production facility is in the Alaminos Canyon Block 773 and is adjacent to the Shell-operated Silvertip field, approximately 10 miles from the Shell-operated Perdido platform and approximately 200 miles southwest of Houston. Whale will feature a semi-submersible production host in more than 8,600 feet of water with 15 oil-producing wells, according to Shell.
The Whale development, owned by Shell Offshore as operator with a 60 percent interest and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. with a 40 percent interest, is expected to reach peak production of approximately 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) and currently has an estimated, recoverable resource volume of 490 million boe. Whale will be Shell’s 12th deepwater host in the Gulf of Mexico and is scheduled to begin production in 2024.
The integration of the Whale FPU topside and hull in one single lift is a “major milestone achievement” for the company “resulting in greater productivity and safety”, Seatrium noted, enabled by Goliath twin cranes with a combined 30,000-metric-ton lifting capacity and a 328-foot (100-meter) hook height.
Singapore-based Seatrium said its efforts resulted in over two million man-hours saved and a 30 percent reduction in hull and topside integration time. The Whale project scored 96 percent on international standards for health, safety, and environment, and the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) 577 standards as well as the U.S. Coast Guard statutory requirements, according to the release.
“We are delighted to have successfully delivered the Whale FPU project, which marks a significant milestone in our journey as we continue to expand our footprint in the offshore market”, Seatrium CEO Chris Ong said. “We are committed to providing innovative and comprehensive solutions for a diverse range of offshore and marine applications. Our successful delivery of the Whale FPU project is a testament to our capabilities and expertise”.
Southeast Asia’s First Floating ESS
Meanwhile, Southeast Asia’s first floating and stacked Energy Storage System (ESS) has been deployed at Seatrium’s Floating Living Lab (FLL) and will start operating in the first quarter of 2024. The stacked ESS is a key component of an integrated floating energy solution that could help to overcome Singapore’s land constraints, with a deployment footprint of up to 40 percent less than land-based ESS, the company said in a separate news release.
The project was awarded to a consortium led by Univers, formerly Envision Digital International Pte Ltd., and part of the $7.3 million (SGD 10 million) partnership between the Energy Market Authority (EMA), a statutory board under the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Seatrium to develop innovative energy solutions in the marine sector.
The floating ESS at Seatrium’s FLL has a maximum storage capacity of 7.5 megawatt hours (MWh) and can meet the electricity needs of more than 600 four-room Housing and Development Board (HDB) households for one day in a single discharge, the company said. The ESS is integrated with a suite of intelligent energy management functionalities, including a Smart Energy Management System supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to enhance operational efficiency and energy dispatch. It is also capable of supporting locations with intermittent power supplies or being activated for rapid deployment in remote islands affected by power disruptions, the company added.
“Given Singapore’s limited land area, we need innovative solutions for our energy infrastructure such as Seatrium’s floating solution for energy storage”, On the project’s deployment, EMA Chief Executive Ngiam Shih Chun said. “I thank our industry partners for their commitment in developing sustainable energy solutions”.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of developing innovative energy solutions in the offshore, marine, and energy industries”, Ong said. “The deployment of Singapore’s first floating and stacked ESS at Seatrium’s FLL is testament to our commitment towards leveraging technology and innovation to optimize energy efficiency and reduce our operational footprint”.
Source: https://www.rigzone.com/