SBM starts work on FPSO conversion

Converting the giant tanker that will become Guyana’s first ever floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel is now underway at Keppel’s shipyard in Singapore.

The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) ‘Tina’, arrived at the Keppel Tuas shipyard on November 10 and over the next 18 months, will be transformed into the FPSO ‘Liza Destiny’.

Once moored at the Liza field, 200 kilometers off the Guyanese coast, the FPSO will be on track to support the project target of first oil onstream in November 2019.

FPSO ‘Liza Destiny’ will be able to store 1.6 million barrels of crude oil, producing up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day. Its gas treatment capacity will be around 170 million standard cubic feet per day, with water-injection capacity of about 200,000 barrels per day. The converted vessel will eventually be spread-moored at the Liza field, in waters around 1,525 meters deep.

Spread mooring systems and topside modules will be built, installed and integrated as part of the overall FPSO conversion works. The vessel will also be fully refurbished and upgraded, from the outer hull, to the internal tanks and marine systems, to the living quarters.

ExxonMobil supplier partner SBM Offshore was awarded contracts for phase one of the Liza project to construct, install, lease and operate the FPSO.

SBM Offshore FPSO Managing Director, Bernard van Leggelo said the vessel’s arrival in Singapore marks the start of the project construction phase. “Our objective is to safely deliver the Liza FPSO in partnership with our client and the experienced team at Keppel, by working together as one team. SBM is proud to play its part for this major project by laying the foundation for the first FPSO for our client’s offshore development in Guyana.”