In total, Fred. Olsen now operates an FPSO/ FSO fleet consisting of five vessels and one MOPU (mobile offshore production unit) on behalf of Addax Petroleum Limited.

On November 30, 2006 Knock Allan Pte Ltd signed a contract with CNRL for the provision and operation of the FPSO converted Suezmax tanker Knock Allan (built 1992 at Harland & Wolf yard). The vessel is deployed in the Olowi block located within the South Gabon sub-basin offshore Gabon. This block covers an area of 1,271 square kilometers and extends from the shoreline to a maximum water depth of around 50 meters.

The conversion of Knock Allan commenced at Drydocks World Dubai in August 2007. The unit then left the yard during Christmas 2008, arrived at the Olowi field early February 2009 for hook-up to the pre-laid mooring system for start of final commissioning. First oil was received from CNRL on April 20, 2009 and FPSO Knock Allan successfully completed the 72 hours acceptance test without any technical problems 74 hours after first oil. The 10 years firm plus 10 one-year options contract commenced May 1, 2009.

Norwegian and international suppliers for the topside modules include Kanfa, Harland & Wolff, Dresser Rand (Peter Brotherhood), ABB, Kongsberg, Aalborg ,Hamworthy and Grenland Group. Marine and field installation suppliers include ASAC, Vryhoff, Inocean and Hakonsen Marine/Ingenium. All have made significant contributions to the successful project execution, installation and start-up of the vessel in Gabon.

FPSO Knock Allan is a production centre for four wellhead platforms. Due to the nature of the crude, the pipelines between the platforms and the FPSO will be electrically heated. All power is generated onboard the vessel which has a total power generation capacity of 2 x 27 MW – making it one of the largest FPSO power generation units in the world.

Production capacity is 25,000 barrels oil per day (BOPD), with 85 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas. Gas is used for power generation and gas-lift., while oil storage of 1.04 millions barrels is available prior to export via trading tankers. The contract will be an important contributor to Fred. Olsen’s revenues.

Fred. Olsen has with this project demonstrated the company’s commercial and technical ability to manage and successfully deliver large and complicated FPSO projects.