Total Plans Kaombo FPSO Output Start

August 1, 2017

Total has scheduled the dates for first output for its Kaombo FPSO off Angola.

Total is set to begin production from one of the two Kaombo floaters in Angola as soon as March 2018.

The Kaombo project comprises two converted FPSOs for Block 32 located about 260km offshore of the capital Luanda in the Southern African country, and has suffered numerous delays pushing the project around a year behind schedule since it launched in 2014.  The Kaombo project aims to tap oil deposits in ultra-deep offshore waters at depths of up to 1950m, and the two FPSO units will be connected by around 300km of subsea pipelines to the six fields in the block.  The gas will be sent to the Angola LNG plant.

The development has been a boon for local jobs with over 14 million man-hours of fabrication and construction being performed in Angolan yards.

In an investor call on Thursday, Total chief financial officer Patrick de La Chevardiere said: “First oil from the first FPSO (North) is expected in March or April 2018, and the second FPSO (South), let’s say, six months later.

“The FPSO North is more than 90% complete and will sail away from Singapore later this year. Start-up is planned in early 2018.

“The second FPSO is more than 75% complete and start-up is planned in 2018,” De La Chevardiere added.

In 2014, when the Kaombo project was launched, first oil was due in 2017. More specifically, a statement by Saipem upon contract award mentioned that the first FPSO would be operational by the first quarter of 2017 and the second by the second quarter of 2017. Although this would imply that the delay would be at least a year, the French giant’s CFO did not clarify what quarter of 2018 the FPSO will start production.

Total are also continuing their push for financial investment decision for its Zinia Phase 2 project in Block 17, also off Angola.  Discussions to review the fiscal terms of the project are ongoing.