Following a voyage of 7,331 miles (13,577km), a former trading tanker that was converted to a production ship and which is now named N’Goma FPSO safely berthed at Paenal’s fitting-out complex, Port Amboim, Angola, last month.
The arrival of the vessel in Angola from Singapore marks the young yard’s second mega FPSO in just eight months.
Two of the N’Goma’s topsides modules were fabricated at the yard . . . the aulphate removal package and the hot oil pump, both of which have been successfully lifted and integrated onboard the vessel.
Porto Amboim Estaleiros Navais Ltda – known as Paenal yard – represents an important part in the sustainable growth for Angola.
The yard – a joint venture partnership between national oil company Sonangol, SBM Offshore and DSME with holdings of 40%, 30% and 30% respectively – provides a local base for the oil industry’s exploration and production offshore West Africa.
Inaugurated in 2008, Paenal shipyard was established to meet Angola’s need to develop manufacturing technology and to facilitate the integration of FPSO modules.
The yard’s heavy lift crane, rated 2,500 tonnes and inaugurated last year, combined with 490m of purpose-built quayside, means that the yard is fully commissioned and can accommodate the installation of topsides on to mega FPSOs.
Paenal is said to be capable of producing up to 10,000 tonnes of modules per year.
To put in place the required skilled workers sourced locally and meet international standards required an initiative and investment by the shipyard’s partners.
In parallel with construction of the yard a dedicated training school was established in Porto Amboim, which contributes to the knowledge base of Angola’s oil and gas industry.
Since 2008, the yard’s workforce has grown exponentially. From a humble start six years ago, almost 1,200 people are now employed, of which 85% are Angolan nationals – a level well above the 70% minimum imposed on the industry by the government.
Globally, SBM Offshore employs over 1,700 people at its Angolan operations (including Paenal) and has been established in the country since 1997.
The shipyard is the biggest employer in the region.
This local commitment is said to be an important consideration for SBM’s clients and the N’Goma is its first FPSO to berth at Paenal. The end client in this instance is Italian oil and gas major Eni.
The conversion to date has included major upgrade work on the hull, turret and integration of new and refurbished topsides, all of which was carried out in Singapore at Keppel Shipyard.
Among the significant work to be carried out at the Angola yard is heavy lifting of a significant amount of further equipment and systems aboard the FPSO, followed by integration.
Once the FPSO is completed the vessel will be mobilised to block 15/06 (West Hub) offshore Angola by OPS – a joint venture company between Sonangol and SBM Offshore – which celebrated its 10th year anniversary of operations last month.
Formerly FPSO Xikomba, it was disconnected from Angola block 15 in 2011 where it had operated for eight years for ExxonMobil.
As the N’Goma, the revamped FPSO will have a total processing capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil and up to 115million cu.ft of gas per day, plus it will have a daily water handling capability of up to 120,000 bpd.
Eni expects West Hub to begin production this year. The FPSO is scheduled to serve the Ngoma, Sangos and Cinguvu discoveries under a 12-year lease and operate agreement.
Last month, OPS celebrated 10 years in operations, marking 41 years of cumulative FPSO experience offshore Angola during which time its fleet has produced over 703million barrels of oil.
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