The development of Australia’s newest offshore oilfield – the Mutineer-Exeter project off Western Australia – has taken another key step forward with completion of a state-of-the-art Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility.
The FPSO – named the MODEC Venture 11 – will leave Singapore in early 2005 to take up anchorage off the WA coast where first oil production from the Mutineer-Exeter field is planned for mid-2005.
The vessel was christened today (see attached photograph) in the Jurong shipyard in Singapore by Ms Catherine Ellice-Flint, wife of Santos Limited’s Managing Director, Mr John Ellice-Flint.
The Mutineer-Exeter oil discovery is being developed by the Santos, KUFPEC, Nippon Oil and Woodside joint venture.
“Mutineer-Exeter is a landmark project for Santos as it is our first offshore oil development as Operator,” Mr Ellice-Flint said.
“Today’s naming ceremony is therefore a major milestone in the project’s progress,” he said.
“The vessel sailed into the shipyard only 10 months ago as a Suez Max class tanker and has undergone an exceptional and rapid conversion into one of the world’s most modern FPSO facilities.
“The conversion was achieved over one and a half million man-hours without a lost time injury and this excellent safety performance will be reinforced during the re-location voyage, and when operational.”
