Aker Solutions, a Norwegian company renowned for its expertise in engineering and subsea services, has been bestowed with a substantial contract by ExxonMobil Corporation for the development of Uaru, the fifth project in the Stabroek Block. This notable agreement entails Aker Solutions’ delivery of an impressive array of umbilicals, comprising three dynamic and seven static lines, spanning an total length of over 52 kilometers.
For readers who may not be familiar with the term, umbilicals serve as the vital link connecting surface and seafloor oil and gas equipment, facilitating crucial controls, power transmission, and heat exchange. These intricately engineered lines play a pivotal role by facilitating the transmission of electric and fiber-optic signals, electrical power, and hydraulic and chemical injection fluids to the subsea units. It is noteworthy that dynamic umbilicals, characterized by their helically wound construction, encompass a range of components, including steel tubes, electrical cables, optical cables, and tensile armors.
These complex structures are designed to withstand a multitude of forces, including floater motions, gravity exerted by auxiliaries, and internal or external pressures. Conversely, static umbilicals are engineered to remain fixed in position following their installation.
Immediate commencement of project execution, engineering, and manufacturing activities will take place at Aker Solutions’ facility in Mobile, Alabama, with the scheduled delivery set for the first quarter of 2026.
Maria Peralta, the Executive Vice President of Aker Solutions, expressed her enthusiasm regarding the contract’s acquisition, stating, “We are thrilled to have been awarded the Uaru umbilical system contract, and we eagerly anticipate the continuation of our partnership with ExxonMobil in Guyana, building upon our previous successes in delivering the Payara and Yellowtail umbilicals.”
The contract’s value, as estimated by the company, falls within the range of US$45 million to US$136 million, underscoring the significance and scope of this endeavor.
The Uaru project, spearheaded by ExxonMobil in collaboration with its partners Hess and CNOOC International, carries a substantial valuation of $12.7 billion. Boasting a peak production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), this ambitious initiative represents the largest and most financially significant undertaking by the consortium in the region.
Notably, other contracts have already been awarded under the Uaru project, with companies such as TechnipFMC securing the supply of subsea production systems, while MODEC and Saipem have been entrusted with the responsibilities of providing the floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel and executing the subsea installation, respectively.
