SBM Offshore has confirmed that, in partnership with Technip Energies, it had reserved a Fast4Ward hull for use by French operator TotalEnergies on the $9-billion Sapakara South-Krabdagu project in Block 58 offshore Suriname. SBM had been conducting front- end engineering and design (FEED) studies for an FPSO for the development in parallel with rival MODEC.
SBM said the key benefits of the Fast4Ward hull are reducing cycle time to energy delivery, de-risking projects, and improving quality and safety. Fast4Ward incorporates digital solutions and emerging technologies, allowing for continual advancements of the contractor’s solutions.
The 100% newbuild hull carries a life expectancy of 30 years, touts 13% more deck space compared to a VLCC, and can store up to 2.3 million bbl of crude.
SBM’s first completed Fast4Ward hull—dubbed Multi-Purpose Floater (MPF1)—was later designated for use at ExxonMobil’s Liza field offshore Guyana.
TotalEnergies confirmed FEED work was progressing for the development of the Sapakara and Krabdagu fields, with combined recoverable resources estimated above 700 million bbl thanks to the integration of water alternating gas injection technology to maximize recovery.
The operator has also pointed to ocean-bottom node (OBN) seismic technology as playing a key role in maximizing resources and the placement of the development wells. An initial OBN campaign covering 900 km2 will be carried out in the second half of 2024.
The Block 58 development is the first development within the tract located about 50 km offshore Suriname. TotalEnergies is the operator and holds a 50% interest in Block 58 with APA Corp. holding the remaining 50% stake. Suriname’s national energy company Staatsolie has the option to enter the development project with up to 20% interest upon final investment decision (FID).
“Some key milestones have been recently reached in the path towards FID,” said TotalEnergies in a press release. “An agreement was concluded between Staatsolie and TotalEnergies on the field development area, maximizing the value for Suriname and the Block 58 coventurers over the 25-years production period. In addition, the hull for the 200,000-BOPD FPSO unit has been secured.”
The FID for the project is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024, for a production startup in 2028.
“We are glad to progress together with Staatsolie and APA towards the FID of Block 58, which will be the next milestone in the partnership between Suriname and TotalEnergies. Our company is deploying advanced technologies to minimize the environmental impact and maximize resource recovery, while focusing on ensuring economic benefits for the country,” said Javier Rielo, senior vice president Americas, exploration & production, at TotalEnergies.
TotalEnergies revealed its most recent exploration success on Block 58 at the Krabdagu-1 well offshore Suriname in February 2022. It followed previous discoveries at Maka, Sapakara, Kwaskwasi, Keskesi, and the successfully tested Sapakara South-1 appraisal well.
Located 18 km south-east of Sapakara South, Krabdagu-1 was drilled at a water depth of 780 m and encountered approximately 90 m of net oil pay in good quality Maastrichtian and Campanian reservoirs.
The original discovery on the block, Maka Central-1, was drilled at a water depth of about 1000 m and encountered more than 123 m net pay of high-quality light oil and gas-rich condensate net pay in multiple stacked reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous Campanian and Santonian formations.
