The Baleine offshore development, operated by Eni off the coast of Ivory Coast, is moving toward a new stage with the signing of main agreements between Altera Infrastructure and the Italian energy company for the supply of a new-build floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
The infrastructure will support the third phase of the project through an EPCIC contract and a 15-year bareboat charter agreement, designed to sustain commercial production from the field over the long term.
Located approximately 70 kilometers off the Ivorian coast at depths between 700 and 1,300 meters, Baleine has become one of West Africa’s most significant offshore developments thanks to a phased execution scheme that has allowed for the progressive incorporation of production capacity while expanding subsea and surface infrastructure.
Altera: An FPSO designed for long-term operation
The new floating unit will be built by Wilson New Energies in China and will have the capacity to produce up to 90,000 barrels of oil per day, process 160 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, and store approximately 1.4 million barrels of crude oil. With the addition of this infrastructure, total production from the Baleine complex will reach around 150,000 barrels of oil per day and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day.
Unlike units converted from existing oil tankers, a platform specifically designed for the field allows for optimized process module distribution, increased operational efficiency, easier future maintenance activities, and the adaptation of the facility to specific hydrocarbon production, storage, and treatment requirements.
Offshore engineering for production at depths between 700 and 1,300 meters
Conditions at the Baleine field demand engineering solutions typical of deepwater operations. Production from depths exceeding 700 meters requires subsea systems capable of withstanding high hydrostatic pressures, dynamic variations induced by waves and ocean currents, as well as strict reliability requirements due to the complexity of subsea interventions.
The development incorporates subsea infrastructure consisting of wells, production trees, manifolds, umbilicals, and dynamic risers that will transport oil and gas to the FPSO for processing. The integration of these systems constitutes one of the project’s main technical challenges, as any interruption directly affects production continuity and operating costs.
Baleine gas to strengthen energy security in Ivory Coast
In addition to the increase in oil production, the project incorporates a strategic component associated with the utilization of natural gas. All gas produced will be destined for the domestic market in Ivory Coast to supply power plants and meet the growing energy demand resulting from the country’s industrial development.
This approach maximizes the utilization of the field’s resources, reduces the need for energy imports, and limits practices such as venting or routine flaring of associated gas, aligning with more efficient hydrocarbon resource management.
An alliance consolidating offshore expansion in West Africa
The third phase of the project expands the collaboration initiated between Altera Infrastructure and Eni during Baleine Phase 2, when both companies incorporated the FPSO Petrojarl Kong and the Yamoussoukro floating storage unit to accelerate initial production from the field.
As part of the project’s financial closing, Altera announced it has secured the largest financing scheme in its history, backed by international institutional investors. The financial structure covers the period from the start of FPSO construction through the completion of the 15-year charter contract, providing stability for an intensive investment in offshore infrastructure.
Source and photo: https://alterainfra.com/
