Westwood Energy Newsletter – Edition 10

Curated offshore energy news from our DailyLogix desk.

Ten offshore energy stories every fortnight, tracking the latest moves across the supply chain – from rigs and production to subsea, marine and renewables.

1. Seatrium Secures Major FPSO Integration Contract from SBM Offshore for the P-87 FPSO

Seatrium has announced it has secured a contract valued at over US$154 million from SBM Offshore for the integration of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel destined for an unnamed field offshore South America. Seatrium’s scope comprises the fabrication of key mooring and riser support structures, the flare tower and associated topside support structures, alongside vessel modification and drydocking activities and the integration of topside modules. The contract also covers mechanical completion, selected pre-commissioning works, and support for commissioning and sea trials. Project execution is scheduled to commence in 4Q 2026, with completion planned for 2029. Given the project timeline and the associated work scope, Westwood estimates that this contract relates to the P-87 FPSO destined for Petrobras’ SEAP development offshore Brazil.

2. Delfin LNG Awards NOV SSY System Contract for Delfin FLNG 1 Offshore Louisiana

NOV announced it received a contract from Delfin LNG for its Delfin FLNG 1 project offshore Louisiana, US, to supply an APL submerged swivel and yoke (SSY) system. Delfin FLNG 1, the first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel planned for the Delfin LNG project, will have an estimated LNG export capacity of 4.4 mmtpa and is scheduled to commence production in 2030. The facility is expected to become the world’s largest FLNG unit and will feature the first quick-disconnect SSY system, allowing the vessel to disconnect from its mooring and sail away ahead of hurricanes. NOV’s compact SSY system will provide secure mooring and enable the continuous transfer of natural gas from an existing subsea pipeline while reducing topside infrastructure and overall project complexity. The system will also allow the FLNG vessel to weathervane through 360 degrees, maintaining alignment with changing wind, wave and current conditions and supporting reliable ship-to-ship LNG offloading operations.

3. Valaris DS-12 Bags BP Extension Keeping It Busy Through Early 2028

BP has exercised a one-well option on its current contract for provision of ultra deepwater (UDW) drillship Valaris DS-12 (10,000′) for further operations offshore Egypt, which will keep it busy through 1Q 2028. The rig is currently working for the operator under a firm deal that had been due to end around March or April 2027, however, due to a revision in well sequencing the initial firm term will now run through late 2027 or early 2028. The new approximate 60-day extension, which will add around $25 million to contracted revenue backlog, will then begin. There are two options still available on BP’s contract.

4. Five ARO Drilling Jackups Awarded Long-Term Extensions with Saudi Aramco

Five ARO Drilling-owned jackups have been awarded long-term extensions with Saudi Aramco, keeping them committed through 2029 offshore Saudi Arabia. Jackups Gilbert Rowe (300′-IC), SAR 201 (200′-IC), SAR 202 (220′-IC), Bob Keller (300′-IC) and JP Bussell (300′-IC) have all been extended from October 2026 for three years each.

5. Valaris Secures Three-Year Deal with BP for US Gulf Platform Drilling Support Services

Valaris has secured a three-year service contract with BP supporting drilling operations on the Mad Dog and Thunder Horse platforms in the US Gulf. The contract is expected to commence in January 2027 in direct continuation of the existing service contract and adds approximately $290 million to contracted revenue backlog.

6. Sea Link Secures UK Development Consent

The UK government has granted development consent for Sea Link, an electricity transmission project between Suffolk and Kent, UK. The 2 GW subsea high-voltage direct current (HVDC) connection forms part of National Grid Electricity Transmission’s Great Grid Upgrade and is scheduled to enter construction in early 2027. The development will comprise converter stations in Suffolk and Kent linked by a 140 km, 525 kV subsea cable capable of supplying electricity equivalent to around two million homes. Sumitomo Electric Industries will supply and install the cable from its Port of Nigg facility.

7. Wind Turbine Installation Begins at Inch Cape

Installation of wind turbines has commenced at the Inch Cape wind farm, located offshore Scotland, UK, with Cadeler’s Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV) Wind Mover deployed for the campaign. The WTIV arrived on site on 30 October 2026 and is scheduled to undertake component load-out operations from the Port of Dundee before continuing installation activities. Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) support will be provided by Acta Hercules, alongside crew transfer vessels NOS Exceller and NOS Empowerer during commissioning. The project will comprise 72 V236-15.0 MW turbines on 54 monopile and 18 jacket foundations.

8. Cadeler Secures First Charter for Wind Apex at Dogger Bank C

Cadeler has secured the first contract for its new Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV) Wind Apex, which will transport and install wind turbines at Dogger Bank C, located in the UK North Sea. The vessel is scheduled to commence work in 3Q 2027 following delivery in 1H 2027. The vessel will work alongside the existing WTIV Seaway Ventus to assist with the installation of 87 turbines and support completion activities across the remaining phases of the Dogger Bank project. Wind Apex is the third vessel in Cadeler’s A-class series and features 5,600 sq m of deck space and a payload capacity exceeding 17,000 t, enabling both turbine and foundation installation activities.

9. Lianson Fleet Group Acquires First Heavy-Lift Vessel

Icon Samudera, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lianson Fleet Group (LFG), has acquired a heavy-lift vessel that will be renamed LFG Hercules, marking the group’s entry into the heavy-lift offshore market. Built in China in 2024, the Dynamic Positioning 2 (DP2) vessel is equipped with a 4,000-tonne main crane and accommodation for up to 160 personnel. LFG stated that the acquisition broadens its marine and offshore service offering and complements its existing offshore support vessel fleet. The company expects demand from offshore decommissioning projects in Southeast Asia and emerging offshore wind developments to support utilisation of the vessel across the region.

10. Equinor Extends Charters for Havila Charisma and Havila Foresight

Havila Shipping has secured contract extensions from Equinor for two Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs), ensuring continued employment for both vessels on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The extensions will keep Havila Charisma under charter until 16 December 2027 and Havila Foresight until 1 January 2028. The 2012-built Havila Charisma and 2008-built Havila Foresight have been on continuous charter with Equinor since their respective deliveries. The latest option exercises follow earlier one-year extensions awarded in 2025 and continue a long-term relationship that originated from contracts awarded in 2020, which included multiple one-year extension options.

Prefer your news on LinkedIn? You can subscribe to Westwood Energy News on our LinkedIn Newsletter page here.

This newsletter features a sample of news from DailyLogix, sourced from Westwood’s SubseaLogix, PlatformLogix, RigLogix, WindLogix and MarineLogix market intelligence solutions. For comprehensive daily offshore energy news delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to one of our solutions today.

All Editions