Tullow Ghana Limited has started the construction of a new fabrication facility in Sekondi for the Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) Project to serve as Ghana’s second floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO).

The second FPSO being constructed on a land leased from the Ghana Navy is expected to start producing oil from the TEN fields from mid-2016. The 122 tonne, 23 metre high steel cylinders would anchor the FPSO to the seabed, keeping it in place during its lifetime.

Mr Charles Darku, Tullow Ghana General Manager told newsmen that, the facility would be used to fabricate jumper spools for the TEN Project, which would connect subsea production equipment on the seabed.

He said the TEN Project is making good its local content commitments as Tullow provides the leading role in the first project to fabricate important FPSO components in Ghana.

Mr Darku said the project would provide a new fabrication capability, which would enable more work to be done in-country.

“This will be the first time that FPSO anchor piles have been constructed in Ghana.

“It’s fantastic to see work has started at this new facility. We are grateful to the Ghana Navy for allowing us to lease the land,” he said.

Mr Alex Mould, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation noted: “As one of the TEN Partners, we are pleased to be associated with the efforts that the field Operator, Tullow Ghana, is pursuing.”

“It is tangible evidence that we are delivering on the commitments made in the TEN Development Plan, approved by the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, which also provides Ghana with a sustainable legacy that, will support not just the TEN and Jubilee developments, but future oil projects as well. We congratulate all associated with this significant achievement.”

He said a second new fabrication yard, has also commissioned to fabricate components for the TEN Project in Takoradi port.

He said the fabricate yard is being built by Subsea7; and would be used to fabricate anchor piles for subsea manifolds.

Mr Mould said working in collaboration with the Petroleum Commission the TEN Project is committed to maximise the amount of work undertaken in Ghana.

Earlier this year, module support stools for the FPSO were fabricated by Seaweld Engineering Ltd and Orsam Ltd in Tema and Takoradi, subsea mud mats are currently being fabricated by Harlequin International Ghana Ltd and Accra-based Hydra Offshore Group is supplying engineering services to the project.