BW Offshore’s BW Opal FPSO achieves first gas

BW Offshore announced the BW Opal FPSO achieved first gas on September 20, following its ready for start-up (RFSU) status for the Santos-operated Barossa LNG project. This achievement initiates 60% of the contractual dayrate under the charter agreement, marking a critical transition from project to operations and demonstrating the FPSO's readiness for stable energy production.

The next milestone, the interim performance test (IPT), will increase the payable dayrate to 85%. The final milestone, practical completion (PC), will trigger 100% of the dayrate and commence the 15-year firm contract period. Chief executive Marco Beenen lauded the achievement as a testament to team collaboration and commitment to safe project delivery.

The BW Opal FPSO is designed to process 850 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas and 11,000 barrels per day of stabilised condensate. Operating in the Barossa gas field, 285 kilometres offshore Darwin, Australia, the FPSO is poised to play a central role in unlocking the field's resource potential.