After Saipem and TechnipFMC, Baker Hughes hired for Angolan ultra-deepwater development

June 25, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Following contracts awarded to Saipem and TechnipFMC, Azule Energy, a joint venture between Italy’s Eni and the UK’s BP, has selected Baker Hughes to deliver subsea production systems for its ultra-deepwater development in Angola.

The Greater PAJ project is described as Angola’s first integrated cross-block development, with first oil expected in less than three years, in the first half of 2029. The development brings together five offshore fields across two blocks, Palas, Astraea and Juno in Block 31 and Urano and Dione in Block 31/21.

Eni reported on June 22 that the FID had been reached for the oil development located in Blocks 31 and 31/21 offshore Angola, operated by Azule Energy, the company equally owned by Eni and BP, and participated in by Sonangol E&P and Equinor.

Baker Hughes will supply its deepwater horizontal tree systems to optimize production in the ultra-deepwater, greenfield development, as well as subsea control modules and intervention workover control systems, along with associated connection, distribution and topside equipment.

The company shall also provide integrated tooling and services to support installation, commissioning and ongoing production performance from its facilities in Angola.

Delivery of subsea trees is anticipated to start in 2027. According to Baker Hughes, the deepwater horizontal tree systems are engineered for ultra-deepwater environments with an operating threshold of up to 10,000 psi and depths of 10,000 feet.

“Ultra-deepwater developments demand unmatched reliability and performance to ensure that production is safe, efficient and sustained over the life of the field,” said Baker Hughes Executive Vice President of Oilfield Services & Equipment Amerino Gatti. “By combining Baker Hughes’ industry-leading offshore production technology with expertise honed through decades of experience of operating Angola’s deepwater fields, we can help Azule optimize production and deliver energy more effectively across Sub-Saharan Africa.”

The concept of the Greater PAJ project consists of 17 wells connected to a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel with a nameplate capacity of 95,000 barrels of oil per day and a gas export capacity of 70 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, which will be delivered to Angola LNG (ALNG) plant via a new gas export line that will be tied-in to the existing Block 31 gas export network.

Saipem secured a $1 billion contract for the project entailing the engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation of approximately 180 kilometers of rigid pipelines and subsea facilities, as well as the transportation and installation of 38 kilometers of flexible flowlines and jumpers and 54 kilometers of umbilicals. In a separate announcement, TechnipFMC reported that it had won a contract to design and manufacture flexible flowlines and risers to connect wells in water depths approaching 2,000 meters to a new floating production unit (FPU).