TechnipFMC has been awarded a substantial contract by Shell for the first integrated engineering, procurement, construction, and installation project to use high-pressure subsea production systems rated up to 20,000 psi (20K) for the Sparta development in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico. TechnipFMC defines a substantial contract as one valued between $250 million and $500 million.
The contractor will manufacture and install subsea production systems, umbilicals, risers, and flowlines for the development in the Garden Banks area of the Gulf of Mexico. The tree systems will be Shell’s first to be qualified for 20K applications and are engineered to meet the high-pressure requirements of this greenfield development.
Shell previously awarded the construction of the Sparta floating production unit (FPU) to Seatrium. The system will be the third “sister” platform built by the Singapore yard for Shell following the deliveries of both Vito and Whale. The Sparta FPU will be capable of producing 90,000 BOED.
Shell took FID on Sparta last December. The field is estimated to hold more than 240 million BOE of recoverable reserves. The development features eight subsea production wells and two subsea drilling bases connected via two production loops to the FPU. Production is slated to begin in 2028.
Sparta was originally discovered in 2012 by Cobalt Energy and Total, when it was called North Platte. The Wilcox-aged discovery requires 20K-psi technology to develop. Cobalt went bankrupt in 2017 and sold its stake in the field to Norway's Equinor. In early 2022, then partner TotalEnergies walked away from the project, leaving Equinor with 100% interest.
Shell purchased 51% of Equinor’s interest and became the new operator of the field in August 2022. Equinor retained a 49% interest in the project. The partners later changed the name of the field to Sparta.
