en.Wedoany.com Reported - On June 23, Azule Energy—a joint venture between Italy's Eni and the UK's BP—has awarded contracts for an ultra-deepwater development project in Angola to Saipem and TechnipFMC, following the project's final investment decision (FID).
Eni announced on June 22 that the Greater PAJ offshore oil development project, located in Blocks 31 and 31/21 offshore Angola, has reached FID. The project is operated by Azule Energy (a 50/50 joint venture between Eni and BP), with Sonangol E&P and Equinor also participating.
Hailed as Angola's first cross-block integrated development project, first oil is expected within less than three years, i.e., in the first half of 2029. The development integrates five offshore oil fields across two blocks: Palas, Astraea, and Juno in Block 31, and Urano and Dione in Block 31/21.
The project concept design includes 17 production wells, supported by a new floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) with a design capacity of 95,000 barrels of crude oil per day and associated gas processing capacity of 70 million standard cubic feet per day. Gas will be transported via a new pipeline connecting to the existing Block 31 gas network, ultimately feeding the Angola LNG (ALNG) plant.
Saipem has secured a $1 billion contract for the Greater PAJ project, covering the design, fabrication, transport, and installation of approximately 180 kilometers of rigid pipelines and subsea structures at water depths of up to 2,000 meters, as well as the transport and installation of 38 kilometers of flexible flowlines and jumpers and 54 kilometers of umbilicals.
The contract has a duration of approximately 40 months. Saipem will carry out fabrication work at its Ambriz yard in Angola and plans to deploy its construction vessels FDS and Castorone for offshore operations.
In a separate announcement, TechnipFMC stated it has been awarded a contract for the Greater PAJ project to design and manufacture flexible fluid lines and risers to connect wells at depths of nearly 2,000 meters to the new floating production unit (FPU). The contract is classified as "major," with TechnipFMC noting its value ranges between $75 million and $250 million.
Jonathan Landes, President of Subsea at TechnipFMC, said: "This award builds on our expertise in large deepwater projects in the region, including our proven flexible pipe technology. We are honored to be selected to deliver technically reliable solutions on an accelerated timeline, creating value for our client."
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