Jubilee partners require US$150m to fix damaged FPSO

quist

August 9, 2016 2:54 PM

Management of the vessel adds that the repair of the bearing will help increase production numbers but will not completely solve the challenges with the turret bearing.

FPSO Kwame Nkrumah

In April 2016, the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah’s Turret Bearing incurred a challenge, halting operations of the vessel for four weeks, before the damage was contained.

Information reaching Pulse.com.gh suggests that the bearing was not completely fixed and fit for full operations, meaning it needs full repair services.

However, Tullow Oil says the repair works, which will be carried out in two phases, are expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2016.

The repair works, which will be carried out in two phases, are expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2016 and the first half of 2017.

The company said in its latest trading statement and operational update, that until the challenges are fully corrected, oil production will continue to average 85,000 barrels of oil per day, down from the usual 101,000, representing a 15.8% slump in estimated output for 2016.

The turret bearing is a combination of rollers and flexible pipeline fluid that transfer the load (mostly the oil produced) while ensuring that the FPSO rotates at low friction during its life.

The defect on the bearing was detected mid-April, forcing a temporary shutdown of operations on the country's first offshore field in the latter part of April through to early May.

Since then, some makeshift measures had been put in place to help ensure that the field continues to produces oil at lower quantity.

quist