Shell has awarded Singapore-based Seatrium the contract for the newbuild floating production unit (FPU) for the Sparta deepwater field development in the US Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
Seatrium confirmed on 2 January that it had been formally awarded a contract to construct and integrate the hull, topsides, and living quarters of the Sparta semisubmersible FPU. It follows the letter of intent signed by both parties in August 2023.
The award comes after the operator made the final investment decision on the project in December.
The Sparta FPU will be anchored in the about 1400-m water depth located about 275 km off the Louisiana coast in the GOM. It will feature a single topside bolstered by a four-column, semisubmersible floating hull and is designed to produce 90,000 BOED.
Sparta’s design closely replicates the 100,000 BOPD Vito and Whale designs, which also are four-column semisubmersible host facilities. Sembcorp Marine, renamed Seatrium after its acquisition of Keppel Offshore & Marine, won the newbuild FPU contracts for Vito and Whale.
The Sparta FPU will leverage the shipbuilder’s topside single-lift integration methodology, following the Vito and Whale newbuilds and benefiting from operational synergies.
“We are deeply honored that Shell has awarded Sparta, the third FPU newbuild, to Seatrium, following the successful deliveries of the Vito and Whale FPUs. It is a strong affirmation of our team’s capabilities and the longstanding partnership between both parties,” said William Gu, executive vice president and head of Oil & Gas International of Seatrium.
“We are fully committed to executing the project well, including the single-lift operation and fabrication of the FPU to meet its 20,000-psi design for use in harsh weather conditions and delivering the unit to Shell safely and efficiently,” he added.
Sparta will be Shell’s 15th GOM deepwater host and is expected to begin production in 2028.
Vito is in the greater Mars Corridor and began production in February 2023. Whale, destined for the Perdido Corridor, is set to come online in 2024. Seatrium delivered the Whale FPU to Shell in October 2023.
Shell operates Sparta with a 51% interest, with Norway’s Equinor holding the remaining 49%.
