FPSO refurbishment to benefit energy production in West Africa
Refurbishment and life extension project
A contract to refurbish the FPSO Baobab Ivoirien, which has been in operation offshore Côte d'Ivoire since 2003, will see the vessel’s lifespan extended by another 15 years, ensuring sustained energy production for West Africa.
Drydocks World has been awarded the contract, which is due to start in May this year, for the refurbishment and life extension of the FPSO, by Modec Management Services (Modec).
The eight-month expedited project on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel will involve extensive structural enhancements, including 1,000 tonnes of steel renewal, 250,000 square meters of tank coating, and 11,500 metres of new piping.
The scope also covers enhancements to crew living quarters and integration of advanced technologies to boost its efficiency and reliability.
The FPSO plays a crucial role in West Africa’s offshore production, with a processing capacity of 70,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 75 million cubic feet of natural gas. It can also inject 100,000 bpd of water and store up to two million barrels of crude oil.
The vessel, currently operating at the Baobab oil field, 25 km off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire, will relocate to Drydocks World’s Dubai facility for its eight-month refurbishment.
The contract signing ceremony, held at Drydocks World, was attended by Rado Antolovic, CEO of Drydocks World, and Gary Kennedy, President of Modec.
“The vessel’s deepwater operations demand precise refurbishment and life-extension measures to overcome complex engineering and operational challenges, while ensuring efficiency and long-term safety,” said Kennedy, adding that the contract had been awarded as a result of a rigorous selection process.
“We look forward to working closely with Drydocks World to deliver a revitalised vessel that will continue to play a key role in Côte d'Ivoire’s offshore production."
Originally converted in 2003 from an Ultra Large Crude Carrier (ULCC), FPSO Baobab Ivoirien was designed with expandable topsides to maximise offshore production capacity.
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