Ivory Coast: Eni to deploy a cylindrical FPSO and a converted FSO on the Baleine oil field

Altera Infrastructure has won contracts for the redeployment of the FPSO Voyageur Spirit and the shuttle tanker Nordic Brasilia for the Baleine Phase 2 project, offshore Ivory Coast.

The vessels are scheduled to be deployed on the Whale field with a firm 15-year contract. Project development will proceed on an accelerated schedule, with a planned start-up date for phase 2 in the fourth quarter of 2024. 

The Voyageur Spirit and Nordic Brasilia vessels are currently undergoing life extension work and site-specific modifications at Drydocks World in Dubai. 

Voyageur Spirit is a cylindrical FPSO, which previously operated on the Huntington field in the North Sea until 2020. The shuttle tanker Nordic Brasilia will be converted into an FSO to provide additional storage capacity for the Voyageur FPSO. Altera will own and operate both vessels.

"The Whale development is Africa's first net zero emissions project (Scope 1 and 2) and Altera is delighted to join Eni in driving the industry forward by focusing on more sustainable developments," said Altera.

Chris Brett President of Altera Infrastructure Production: "Winning contracts in a promising region like Côte d'Ivoire is a significant endorsement of Altera's ability to deliver complex projects to tight deadlines. 

"This is now our second consecutive contract award based on the redeployment of an existing FPSO. and demonstrates that redeployments are among the fastest and most cost-effective, and emissions-friendly ways for our customers to develop their projects in today's market."

"With this award, we continue to strengthen the presence of our projects in Dubai and are already present in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where we intend to be committed and engaged contributors to the development of a growing industry for many years to come."

Late August, Eni started oil and gas production in the first phase of the Baleine development, first production to take place less than two years after discovery in September 2021, and less than a year and a half after the final investment decision.  

Baleine has been described as the largest hydrocarbon discovery in the Ivorian sedimentary basin .  

For the initial phase, production is via the Baleine FPSO, a refurbished and modernized unit capable of processing up to 15,000 b/d of oil and around 25 Mscf/d of associated gas. Phase 2 is scheduled to start up by the end of 2024, and will increase the field's production to 50,000 b/d of oil and around 70 Mscf/d of associated gas. The third phase of development aims to increase the field's production to 150,000 b/d of oil and 200 Mscf/d of gas.