Shell Offshore Inc has awarded Singapore shipyard group Seatrium a contract to construct and integrate the hull, topsides and living quarters of the Sparta semi-submersible Floating Production Unit (FPU) in the Gulf of Mexico (USA).
The Sparta FPU will be deployed at a depth of 1,400 m and is designed to produce 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The FPU will feature a single topside bolstered by a four-column, semi-submersible floating hull. It is scheduled to begin production in 2028.
It is the third FPU new build contract awarded to Seatrium by Shell, following the Vito and Whale FPUs.
William Gu, Executive Vice President and Head of Oil & Gas International of Seatrium, says: ‘We are fully committed to executing the project well, including the single lift operation and fabrication of the FPU to meet its 20,000-psi design for use in harsh weather conditions, and delivering the unit to Shell safely and efficiently.’
The Sparta FPU will be situated in the Garden Banks area of the US Gulf of Mexico, approximately 275 kilometres (171 miles) off the coast of Louisiana.
