A New FPSO Sets Sail for Barossa Field Offshore Australia

The latest addition to Norway’s BW Offshore fleet, the BW Opal FPSO, has set sail from Seatrium’s yard in Singapore. The vessel is en route to work off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory at the Barossa field.

Commissioned and fully prepared for offshore operations, the BW Opal departed Seatrium’s Tuas Boulevard Yard on May 28. The vessel, boasting impressive dimensions including a hull length of 358 meters and a width of 64 meters, is equipped with 230 MW of installed power and gas processing facilities capable of handling 850 million standard cubic feet per day. Additionally, it can process 11,000 barrels per day of stabilized condensate.

Designed for a 25-year offshore lifespan, the BW Opal aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% compared to traditional systems, potentially cutting down CO2 emissions by up to 2.3 million tonnes over its operational life.

Upon its arrival at the Barossa field, hook-up operations will commence, followed by the start-up phase scheduled for Q3 2025. This phase will involve offshore commissioning, well clean-up, and preparation for gas export.

Project Collaboration and Completion

The construction of the BW Opal FPSO involved years of engineering and global collaboration. Despite initial cost overruns, the vessel was successfully completed and named on February 15. BW Offshore management, along with the families of employees involved in the project, visited the FPSO before its departure.

Expressing gratitude for Seatrium’s dedication, Marlin Khiew, Seatrium’s Executive Vice President, Energy (Americas), highlighted the successful teamwork, project management, and experience that led to the safe departure of the BW Opal.

Seatrium’s expertise in executing FPSO projects has solidified its partnership with BW Offshore, with the BW Opal marking the 18th FPSO delivered to the operator. The vessel will play a crucial role in the Barossa project, processing gas and condensate production from six subsea wells.

The Barossa Project and Environmental Impact

The Barossa field, located approximately 285 kilometers offshore north-northwest of Darwin, will extract natural gas and condensate for export. The project, a joint venture between Santos (50%), SK E&S (32.5%), and JERA (12.5%), received authorization from Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority in late April.

Gas and condensate extracted from the Barossa field will be processed at the FPSO BW Opal, with condensate exported via tankers and natural gas transported through the Gas Export Pipeline to Darwin LNG.

The successful completion and departure of the BW Opal FPSO mark another milestone in the collaboration between BW Offshore and Seatrium, showcasing their expertise in the conversion, modification, and completion of FPSOs.