SBM Offshore to build FSO for Woodside’s Trion oil project in Mexico

SBM Offshore has signed a contract with Woodside Petróleo Operaciones de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Woodside), for the construction and thereafter lease to Woodside of a Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) unit.

Woodside will use the FSO for their Trion deepwater oil field development in the Perdido Belt of the western Gulf of Mexico. The lease contract has a duration of 20 years.

This award complements the Transportation & Installation contract for the FSO and the FPU awarded to SBM Offshore in 2023.

The new build FSO, based on a Suezmax-type hull, will be equipped with a Disconnectable Turret Mooring (DTM) system designed by SBM Offshore. The FSO will be moored in water depth of about 2,500 meters and will be able to store around 950,000 barrels of crude oil.

The Trion field is located 180 km off the Mexican coastline and 30 km south of the US/Mexico maritime border. The Trion project is an alliance between Woodside (60%, Operator) and PEMEX Exploración y Producción (40%, non-Operator). Trion was discovered in 2012 by PEMEX. BHP Petroleum acquired an interest in 2017 which subsequently became part of Woodside’s portfolio in 2022.

Development of Trion will include the installation of an FPU, an FSO, and 18 wells (nine producers, seven water injectors and two gas injectors) drilled in the initial phase, with a total of 24 wells drilled over the life of the Trionproject. The forecast total capital expenditure of US$7.2 billion includes all 24 wells. Gas that is not reinjected or used on the FPU will be shipped to the Mexican markets. First oil is targeted for 2028.  Source: SBM Offshore/Image: Woodside