(WO) — Recent offshore operations in Cote d’Ivoire, Angola and the Republic of Congo have prompted European service providers to secure major contracts, highlighting technological prowess in drilling, engineering and subsea services.
The Invest in African Energy Forum, scheduled for 14-15 May 2024, in Paris, promises a platform for interactive opportunities as it enters its second edition. Here are the standout service contracts, by value, awarded to European companies in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023.
Saipem, Ivory Coast: $400 million
Last March, Italian multinational Saipem was awarded a $400 million contract for subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines as part of the Baleine Phase 2 project, managed by Eni and Petroci offshore Ivory Coast. The contract includes the engineering, supply, construction and installation of approximately 20 km of rigid lines, 10 km of flexible risers and jumpers and 15 km of umbilicals. Saipem’s modern vessels, including the Deep Value Driller, will carry out the installation work in 2024. The contract follows Saipem’s contributions to Baleine Phase 1, which used the Saipem 10000 and Saipem 12000 vessels for drilling activities and fast-track contracts.
TechnipFMC, Angola: $75-250 million
French services company TechnipFMC secured a major contract last February for the Girassol Life Extension Project, led by TotalEnergies and its partners in Block 17. The development marks the first subsea life extension project in the region. Under the contract, TechnipFMC will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and supply of hoses and connectors for the offshore Girassol field. The flexible pipes will extend the life of the field by bypassing rigid pipe bundles previously installed in 2001.
TechnipFMC, Angola: $75-250 million
TechnipFMC signed a second contract in Angola last June with Azule Energy for subsea production systems in the Block 18 offshore fill development. This marks TechnipFMC’s first subsea production system contract with Azule Energy, following a previous supply contract announcement flexible pipes. The project involves reconfiguring the existing field layout to accommodate new equipment that supports Azule’s production ramp-up plan. TechnipFMC will provide subsea trees, manifold, subsea distribution equipment, overhead controls, jumpers, flowlines and umbilicals.
Saipem, Congo-Brazzaville: $100 million
Last October, Saipem secured a $100 million contract with Eni Congo to convert the Scarabeo 5 semi-submersible drilling unit into a floating production unit (FPU), as part of the Congo LNG Project. The FPU will operate as a semi-submersible production platform, separating gas from liquids and boosting the gas to supply a floating LNG unit. The contract covers the engineering, procurement, construction, transportation and commissioning of the FPU, with the offshore installation off the coast of the ROC scheduled for completion by Q4 2025. The Congo LNG Project will have LNG production capacity of three million tons per year.
Petrofac, Ivory Coast: Multi-million dollar contract
International energy services company, Petrofac, secured a multi-million dollar integrated services contract last July with CNR International for the FPSO Espoir Ivoirien offshore Ivory Coast. The three-year deal includes Petrofac’s Asset Solutions business providing end-to-end services for the FPSO, which was sold by BW Offshore to CNR last June for $20 million. Around 110 staff, both onshore and offshore, will transfer from BW Offshore to Petrofac as part of the deal. The move strengthens Petrofac’s presence in Africa, aligning with its expanding portfolio of service contracts across the continent.
Discover more cooperation opportunities between European service providers and African upstream projects in the Invest in African Energy forum. Returning to Paris on 14–15 May 2024 for its second edition, IAE serves as the exclusive platform to facilitate collaboration and dialogue between European investors and Africa’s leading energy hotspots. Organized by Energy Capital & Power with the support of the African Energy Chamber, the event provides delegates with two days to engage with industry leaders, policy makers and project developers.