Azule Energy’s digital steps to speed up four oil projects enable FutureOn’s first foray into West Africa

In a bid to propel the development of four oil projects forward, Angola-based Azule Energy, a joint venture between BP and Eni, has set its cap on using a digital design and visualization platform from FutureOn, a Norwegian software company specializing in the energy sector, which allows the latter to gain its first foothold in West Africa.

Building on FutureOn’s longstanding relationship with BP and Eni, the new three-year contract with Azule Energy, which comes with an extension option, will enable the Norwegian player to supply its FieldTwin digital design and visualization platform to the Angola-based player for the development and acceleration of four projects in the region.

According to FutureOn, these projects entail the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development Project, which is widely recognized as one of the major upstream projects being developed in Angola with approximately one billion barrels estimated reserves and the potential to reach peak production of 175,000 barrels a day. The Agogo field is located about 180 kilometers west of the coast of Angola. Discovered in 2019, the field lies in Block 15/06 at a water depth of approximately 1,650 meters.

“The greatest challenge currently facing the energy sector is the expectation to deliver efficient and effective projects with less resources. Project teams are leaner than ever before, yet the pressure to produce more work – and to produce it quickly – has never been greater. FieldTwin solves this challenge, enabling dispersed project teams to create collaborative working environments where they can accelerate outcomes, reduce costs and de-risk operations,” outlined Andreas Hoel Gaarder, Vice President Middle East and Asia Pacific at FutureOn.

“FieldTwin excels when used for the development of deepwater brownfield expansions and developments like those being pioneered by Azule Energy. Angola is poised for significant investment in deep water projects to support continued growth of oil production, which has increased year on year since 2021. We anticipate this contract – FutureOn’s first in West Africa – could create a ripple effect for further adoption of FieldTwin across the local supply chain.”

The Norwegian firm launched its FieldTwin digital software back in 2019 to offer a faster way to bring subsea developments to life. The technology provides a visual representation of the entire life cycle of a field by creating and maintaining a digital twin which is an exact digital copy of a company’s physical asset.

“Working with global operators, the FieldTwin platform has emerged as a critical technology in the energy sector’s digital toolbox, with a proven track record of enabling collaborative and integrated working, accelerating timelines, achieving cost efficiencies and de-risking activities across the life cycle of assets,” highlighted FutureOn.

The Agogo deepwater greenfield development is situated about 20 kilometers west of the N’Goma FPSO (West Hub), which has been in operation since November 2014. Yinson won a contract in February 2023 to deliver an FPSO for the project while Aker Solutions was picked to provide the umbilicals, and Subsea 7 for the transport and installation of flexible pipes, umbilicals, and associated subsea structures.

Baker Hughes is in charge of delivering subsea equipment and services and TechnipFMC will supply risers and flowlines while MAN Energy Solutions’ scope of supply for the FPSO Agogo‘s gas lift, injection, and export application comprises nine electrically-driven centrifugal-compression trains to maximize the gas production’s flow rate and efficiency.

In October 2023, Yinson Production revealed plans to pilot an offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant, together with Azule Energy, on the FPSO Agogo in Angola. This is said to be the world’s first post-combustion carbon capture unit installed onboard an FPSO.