Norwegian player’s compressor system hand-picked for Yinson Production’s Angola-bound FPSO

Norway’s compressed air systems supplier TMC Compressors has been hired by Yinson Production to deliver a large-capacity marine compressed air system on board a floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel destined to operate offshore Angola.

TMC Compressors reported on Monday, January 29, 2024, that the marine compressed air system would entail compressors for control and service air on board the FPSO Agogo. This vessel will work in the West Hub field of Block 15/06 offshore Angola, which is operated by Azule Energy, Angola’s largest independent oil and gas producer and a 50/50 joint venture between BP and Eni.

Hans Petter Tanum, TMC’s Director of Sales and Business Development, commented: “We are delighted to maintain our position as the global market leader for supply of marine compressed air systems to FPSOs. Yinson Production is an experienced FPSO operator that we are proud to have on our client list. Flying technicians offshore is a costly exercise. Enabling the vessel crew to conduct maintenance therefore makes sense”

While the Norwegian firm did not disclose the value of the contract, the deal will enable it to manufacture and assemble the equipment in Europe before delivering it to Yinson Production’s chosen conversion yard. Designed specifically for offshore and marine use, TMC claims that the compressors have been developed to allow the vessel crew to conduct equipment maintenance themselves.

The Agogo Integrated West Hub development project 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, which is located about 180 kilometers west of the coast of Angola, was discovered in 2019 and lies at a water depth of approximately 1,650 meters with two FPSO vessels currently in operation. Once ready for service, the third FPSO will have a daily production capacity of up to 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent.

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.

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