Swiss technology company Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), which operates globally in robotics, power, and automation technology, has secured a significant contract for works on Guyana’s fifth oil ship.
A joint venture company between Japanese floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) builder MODEC and Toyo Engineering Corp. has entrusted ABB with delivering a comprehensive electrical system and associated digital solutions for ExxonMobil’s Errea Wittu vessel. It will be used in Exxon’s fifth oil project in Guyana—the Uaru field development.
Errea Wittu will integrate the Snoek, Mako, and Uaru resources in the Stabroek Block. With an anticipated operational date of 2026, the vessel boasts a production capacity of 250,000 bpd of oil and a gas treatment capacity of 540 million ft³/d.
Utilizing a pre-built ABB eHouse modular substation, the company aims to streamline operations by commissioning, installing, and testing all electrical systems at the shipyard before offshore deployment to Guyana. This approach minimizes risk exposure and costs, ensuring a faster speed to market. ABB will also provide power management solutions to optimize energy efficiency and asset availability.
The collaboration between ABB and MODEC on FPSO developments in South America continues to strengthen, with this order marking their fourteenth partnership.
Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries, highlighted the significant growth of the FPSO market in South America, citing Guyana’s pivotal role. It was noted that in the context of the global FPSO market, which is estimated to reach $20 billion in 2027, Guyana emerges as a key player with projections of producing 1.7 million bpd of oil by 2035, making it the fourth-largest offshore oil producer globally.
“The FPSO market in South America is growing exponentially driven by the fact that floating platforms are a more cost-efficient, quicker, mobile, and sustainable solution to traditional rigs,” Spencer said.
He added that, “Guyana is at the forefront of this growth, and we are thrilled to contribute our technology to help bring this fifth development for ExxonMobil in Guyana to market quickly and efficiently. The country is already seeing the benefits to its GDP, with its government announcing significant investment into advancing its healthcare sector, education and critical infrastructure as a result.”
As part of its commitment to sustainability, ABB emphasized its plan to aid in reducing carbon emissions in the offshore oil and gas sector. It cited outlined how electrification, automation, and digital technologies can cut emissions by up to 320,000 tonnes per year (tpy) per site, supporting the industry’s move towards minimally crewed operations.