The FPSO will operate in Block 15/06, offshore Angola, for the East Hub Development Project.
After sailing to its final destination where, once in position, the vessel will commence mooring and hook-up operations.
The company said in a statement: “Eni and its partners reached a key milestone towards achieving the first oil from East Hub Development Project, which is planned by the first half of 2017.
“This follows the successful stream of start-ups in the West Hub Project, in the same Block 15/06, which is the only Block of those awarded in the 2006 bid round that has achieved production.”
The East Hub Development Project consists of 9 subsea wells, with five producers and four water injectors, in water depth ranging between 450 and 550 metres.
The hydrocarbons produced from the wells will be transported through a pipeline system to the FPSO to be treated and stored.
With a 36.84% stake, Eni is the operator of Block 15/06, while other partners in the joint venture include Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção and SSI Fifteen with 36.84% and 26.32%, respectively.
Operating in Angola since 1980, Eni has a net current production of 135,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
In June 2015, offshore services provider Bumi Armada selected ABB to provide electrification and automation systems for the Eni’s FPSO vessel in support of oil field development project offshore Angola.
