Tullow adopts 3-phase plan to convert FPSO

Oil and gas firm Tullow and its JV Partners have adopted a three-phase approach to convert the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Kwame Nkrumah to a permanently spread-moored vessel, with offtake through a new deep-water offloading buoy.

Announcing this in its full-year results for the year ended December 31, 2016, Tullow said the first phase of the work, involved the installation of a stern anchoring system, which is expected to be completed this month, after which the tugs maintaining the FPSO on heading control will no longer be required.

The next phase of the project, the Group said, would involve modifications to the turret systems for long-term spread-moored operations.

“In addition, the assessment of the optimum long-term heading continues, in order to determine if a rotation of the FPSO is required,” the London-based oil firm said.

Tullow said detailed planning for these works would continue with the JV Partners and the government, with final decisions and approvals being sought in the first half of 2017.

According to Tullow, work is expected to be carried out in the second half of 2017, with an anticipated facility shutdown of up to 12 weeks, although work would continue to optimise and reduce the shutdown period.

The final phase of the project, the Group said, would involve the installation of a deepwater offloading buoy which is planned to be installed in the first half of 2018.

“This will remove the need for the dynamically positioned shuttle tanker and storage tanker and the associated operating costs. This phase of work also requires approval of both the government and the Jubilee JV Partners,” it said.

Tullow said the capital costs associated with the remediation works, the lost revenue resulting from the shutdown period, and the increased operating costs are expected to be covered by the Joint Venture Hull and Machinery insurance policy and Tullow’s corporate Business Interruption insurance policy.

In February 2016, an issue with the turret bearing of the Jubilee FPSO Kwame Nkrumah was identified resulting in the need to implement new operating and offtake procedures, utilising tugs, a dynamically positioned shuttle tanker and a storage tanker.

Meanwhile, the oil and gas firm said full year 2016 production from the Jubilee field averaged 73,700 bopd (net: 26,200 bopd).

Additionally, under Tullow’s corporate Business Interruption insurance the Group received insurance payments which equate to 4,600 bopd of net equivalent production.

Tullow expects 2017 production from the Jubilee field to average 68,500 bopd (net: 24,300 bopd), assuming 12 weeks of shutdown associated with the next phase of remediation works. The Group’s corporate Business Interruption insurance policy is expected to reimburse Tullow for the equivalent of 12,000 bopd of annualised net production for this shutdown period, increasing Tullow’s effective net production to around 36,300 bopd in 2017.

In December 2015, Tullow submitted the Greater Jubilee Full Field Development Plan to the Government of Ghana. This project, to extend field production and increase commercial reserves, was redesigned given the current oil price environment to reduce the overall capital requirement and allow flexibility on the timing of capital investment.

“Tullow has sought to address comments made by the Government of Ghana on the plan submitted in December 2015 and in light of the current Turret Remediation Project, approval of the plan by the Government of Ghana is now expected in mid-2017,” it said.