GTA LNG Project Hits Major Milestone as FPSO Vessel Arrives

The floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, crucial to the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 LNG development, has reached its designated offshore location along the maritime border of Mauritania and Senegal.

The FPSO vessel is presently undergoing mooring procedures at a location 40 kilometers offshore, situated in waters with a depth of 120 meters. Operated by bp, on behalf of project partners bp, Kosmos Energy, PETROSEN, and SMH, it will facilitate gas production from deepwater reservoirs situated approximately 120 kilometers offshore, utilizing a subsea system.

After being constructed at the COSCO Qidong Shipyard in China, the FPSO has journeyed over 12,000 nautical miles to reach the GTA site.

"bp's investment extends to both the current and future energy systems, with GTA Phase 1 serving as a tangible example of this commitment in action," stated Dave Campbell, bp's Senior Vice President for Mauritania and Senegal.

" This represents a notable achievement for the project, highlighting an inventive LNG development leading the way in harnessing gas resources in Mauritania and Senegal. The journey of the FPSO vessel spanning halfway across the globe, and its secure arrival and installation, underscore the resilience, expertise, collaboration, and tremendous effort of all involved partners. Our primary focus now is on the safe completion of the project as we progress towards achieving first gas."

The GTA Phase 1 development anticipates an annual LNG production of approximately 2.3 million tonnes over a span exceeding 20 years. Marking the inaugural gas development in the newly discovered offshore basin of Mauritania and Senegal, it boasts wells situated in water depths reaching up to 2,850 meters, making it home to the deepest subsea infrastructure across Africa. Recognized as a multibillion-dollar investment, it holds the esteemed designation of being a National Project of Strategic Importance, conferred by the Presidents of both Mauritania and Senegal.

During standard operation, the FPSO will accommodate a maximum of 140 personnel. Spanning an area equivalent to two football fields and towering at 10 storeys in height, the FPSO is constructed using over 81,000 tonnes of steel, 37,000 meters of pipe spools, and 1.52 million meters of cable.

The FPSO is projected to handle in excess of 500 million standard cubic feet of gas daily. It will undertake the extraction of water, condensate, and impurities from the gas before conveying it via pipeline to the Floating Liquified Natural Gas (FLNG) vessel stationed at the Hub Terminal, situated approximately 10 kilometers offshore. Upon reaching the FLNG vessel, the gas will undergo cryogenic cooling, liquefaction, and storage before being transferred to LNG carriers for export. Additionally, a portion of the gas will be designated to address the escalating demand within the two host countries.