TMC picks up work for SBM Offshore’s North America-bound FSO

January 22, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Norway-based TMC Compressors has received an order for a complete marine compressed air system for a newbuild floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit, which SBM Offshore, headquartered in the Netherlands, is in charge of providing for a deepwater oil project off the coast of Mexico, North America.

Trion development concept; Source: Woodside

Thanks to a contract with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry, TMC will deliver a complete marine compressed air system to SBM Offshore’s FSO Chalchi, which is slated for deployment at the Trion deepwater oil field offshore Mexico, operated by the Mexican subsidiary of Australia’s oil and gas giant Woodside Energy.

While the Norwegian player did not disclose the value of the deal, the firm explained that it would supply a medium-sized marine compressed air system, including compressors to supply instrument and control air on board the FSO. The company will also provide air dryers and filters to match the defined air quality requirements for different applications onboard.

Hans-Petter Tanum, TMC’s Director of Sales and Business Development, commented: “SBM Offshore demands top quality equipment lifetime from their suppliers. To be involved in another one of their projects, together with COSCO, both sharpens and excites us. This is an important project for Mexico.”

The Suezmax-based FSO Chalchi will feature a disconnectable turret mooring system engineered by SBM Offshore and will be moored at the Trion field in an approximate water depth of 2,500 meters. The unit will be capable of storing up to 950,000 barrels of crude oil.

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The FSO’s name is inspired by Chalchiuhtlicue, the Aztec water deity, symbolizing the project’s strong connection to the country’s rich heritage. TMC claims that its compressors are developed solely for offshore and marine use.

Designed to enable the vessel crew to easily maintain the equipment themselves, the compressors are said to be built on a technology platform that enables low energy consumption, operating costs, and low emissions to the air.

The Trion project is situated approximately 180 kilometers off the coast of Mexico’s Tamaulipas at a depth of around 2,500 meters, 30 kilometers south of the U.S.-Mexico maritime border.

Discovered by Mexico’s PEMEX in 2012, the project is being developed as a 60:40 joint venture between Woodside, as the operator, and the Mexican player.

The project’s initial phase entails the drilling of 18 wells, with 24 wells planned over its lifetime. The first oil is anticipated in 2028.