Liza Unity, the second Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) for the Stabroek Block, remains on schedule with planned start up in early 2022 says ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud.
The ExxonMobil official was at the time, responding to questions from Guyana Standard regarding the extent to which the delivery timeline would be affected since Singapore, the city in which the Liza Unity is being constructed, has been hit by the coronavirus. There are over 300 reported coronavirus cases and three deaths up in Shanghai to February 27, last.
Persaud was keen to note that the hull of the Liza Unity FPSO arrived in Singapore early this year, and work activities are ongoing.
SBM Offshore, the Dutch company which won the contract to construct the FPSO, said in its latest financial report that said that it has put in place, travel restrictions and implemented measures at the various locations in China following medical advice and directions from authorities while noting that it will continue to monitor developments.
With respect to the Liza Unity project, it said that this is progressing as per schedule. It further noted that its first Fast4Ward® multipurpose hull safely arrived in Singapore allowing the commencement of topsides integration work.
From the global perspective, Rystad Energy had said that out of a total of 28 FPSOs that are under construction, 22 are being built in South Korea and Singapore in China. The energy research and business intelligence company said that with the outbreak of the coronavirus, it expects extensive staffing and supply shortages in China and South Korea which would in turn, delay project deliveries by at least three to six months.
If the epidemic escalates, Rystad said that the delays could increase to nine or even 12 months, especially considering the restricted time windows for heavy transport, installation, and hook-up. The average development time for an FPSO is 36 months, meaning that companies could face a 30% delay.
