BW Opal FPSO Departs Singapore for Barossa Gas Project in Australia with Low-Emission Design and Offshore Cable Technology

The BW Opal, a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit operated by Norway’s BW Offshore, has departed Seatrium’s Tuas Boulevard Yard in Singapore and is en route to the Barossa gas field off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory. Fully commissioned and primed for offshore deployment, the vessel left the shipyard on the morning of May 28 and was subsequently handed over to tugboats for its journey to its new location.

Upon arrival at the Barossa field, hook-up operations will begin immediately, followed by a comprehensive start-up phase. This phase includes offshore commissioning, well clean-up, and final preparations for gas export, which is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2025.

Engineered for a 25-year service life in challenging offshore conditions, the BW Opal is a product of extensive international collaboration and advanced marine engineering. Measuring 358 meters in length and 64 meters in width, the FPSO is equipped with 230 megawatts of installed power. It features gas processing capabilities of up to 850 million standard cubic feet per day and can process 11,000 barrels per day of stabilized condensate.

Seatrium has highlighted the vessel’s environmentally conscious design, stating that the FPSO is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% compared to conventional systems. Over the course of its operational lifespan, this could prevent up to 2.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Integral to the success of such offshore infrastructure are the robust cable systems that power and connect its complex subsystems. Marine and offshore environments demand cables that are not only resistant to corrosion and mechanical stress but also capable of sustaining high voltage and continuous performance under harsh conditions. In FPSO applications, specialized cables—such as medium-voltage power cables, instrumentation cables, and control cables—ensure safe and efficient transmission of electricity and data. These cables are typically flame-retardant, mud-resistant, and meet stringent IEC and NEK standards for offshore use. Without these critical components, the seamless operation of power distribution, process automation, and emergency shutdown systems aboard an FPSO would not be possible.

The BW Opal was officially named on February 15, only three months after BW Offshore acknowledged that the construction phase had encountered cost overruns. In the lead-up to its departure, the vessel was visited by company executives and the families of employees who contributed to its development.

BW Offshore expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the project, emphasizing Seatrium’s vital role in preparing the vessel for safe offshore service. Marlin Khiew, Executive Vice President of Energy (Americas) at Seatrium, remarked:
“We would like to express our appreciation to BW Offshore for entrusting Seatrium with their projects over the years. The successful completion of BW Opal is a testament to our strong teamwork, project management, and experience, reinforcing Seatrium’s standing as the world leader in the conversion, modification, and completion of FPSOs.”

Khiew also noted that the BW Opal is the 18th FPSO delivered to BW Offshore, underscoring a partnership built on decades of collaboration and mutual trust.

The Barossa development, where BW Opal will operate, involves gas and condensate extraction from six subsea wells. Processed hydrocarbons will be separated onboard: stabilized condensate will be offloaded to tankers, while natural gas will be piped via the Gas Export Pipeline to the Darwin LNG facility, integrating with the existing Bayu-Undan pipeline network.

Located approximately 285 kilometers north-northwest of Darwin, the Barossa field was approved for development in 2021. The project is a joint venture between Santos (50%), SK E&S (32.5%), and JERA (12.5%). In April, Santos secured approval from Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to proceed with the venture.

As more offshore projects push into deeper waters and harsher environments, the demand for dependable, high-performance cable solutions continues to rise.

Feichun Cable: Empowering Offshore Excellence
With deep expertise in cable solutions tailored for the marine and offshore sectors, Feichun Cable delivers a comprehensive range of high-specification cables ideal for FPSO, platform, and port crane operations. Our products meet international standards for safety, durability, and performance—supporting reliable power, signal, and control transmission in the world’s most demanding environments. From flame-retardant shipboard cables to rugged port crane cable systems, Feichun Cable is your trusted partner for mission-critical connectivity in the offshore industry.