On November 26, Singapore’s offshore engineering giant Seatrium announced a contract with British Petroleum (BP) to undertake the engineering, procurement, construction, and onshore commissioning (EPC) work for the Tiber Floating Production Unit (FPU) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
This is the second BP deepwater project that Seatrium has secured consecutively, following the FPU contract for the Kaskida project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in December last year, further solidifying the cooperative relationship between the two parties. Previously, Seatrium had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BP for the Tiber project FPU in February this year.
The Tiber project FPU has a daily production capacity of 80,000 barrels of crude oil and employs advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency and safety. The unit will be deployed in the Keathley Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 300 miles southwest of New Orleans, at a water depth of about 4,100 feet, serving the Tiber and Guadalupe oil fields.
Over 85% of the components in the Tiber project FPU design will adopt the solutions from the Kaskida project FPU, enabling Seatrium to fully leverage existing design efficiency and apply experience and best practices to project execution. The serialized construction model effectively enhances supply chain efficiency through standardized procurement and cross-project coordinated planning. It also allows Seatrium to continue collaborating with key engineering and commissioning support partners, as well as reliable equipment suppliers, ensuring continuity and high efficiency in the execution of this major offshore project.
The topside module of the Tiber project FPU will be integrated and lifted onto the hull using Seatrium’s dual gantry crane with a lifting capacity of 30,000 tons. This method allows for the complete construction and testing of the topside module to be finished on the ground, thereby maximizing construction readiness, safety, and efficiency.
The Tiber project FPU further enriches Seatrium’s portfolio of FPUs built for global energy giants, consolidating the group’s position as a leading supplier of deepwater energy solutions. Currently, Seatrium is advancing the construction of the Shell Sparta project FPU and BP’s Kaskida project FPU, and has successfully delivered the Shell Vito project FPU in 2021 and the Whale project FPU in 2023.
William Gu, Executive Vice President of Seatrium Energy (International), stated: “The Tiber project FPU is a significant milestone in our partnership with BP, showcasing the advantages of our serialized construction model for Gulf of Mexico production units. It also highlights Seatrium’s expanding influence in the FPU sector. By maximizing onshore completion and single-lift capability, we consistently deliver exceptional quality and efficient outcomes with uncompromising safety standards. With our growing portfolio of FPU project experience, we will continue to translate practical wisdom into excellent execution and steadfastly support BP’s offshore development projects.”
It is understood that Seatrium’s predecessor was Sembcorp Marine, one of Singapore’s major offshore shipyards. In February 2023, Sembcorp Marine merged with Keppel Offshore & Marine, another major Singaporean offshore shipyard, aiming to create a global leader focused on clean solutions for the offshore renewable energy, new energy, and offshore vessel industries.
In April 2023, the merged entity changed its company name from “Sembcorp Marine” to “Seatrium Limited.” At the time, Sembcorp Marine explained that “Seatrium” is a combination of the words “sea” and “atrium,” reflecting the group’s business and its aspiration to become a global leader providing innovative engineering solutions for the offshore, marine, and energy industries.
Seatrium’s business includes four divisions: Rigs & Floaters; Repairs & Upgrades; Offshore Platforms; and Shipbuilding. The company currently operates shipyards and other facilities in Singapore, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As a leader in the global FSU (Floating Storage Unit) conversion market, Seatrium has successfully delivered 20 such projects since 2007.
