SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

BW Offshore activates 60% of the dayrate after First Gas on the BW Opal FPSO

BW Offshore reached First Gas on the BW Opal FPSO for the Barossa project operated by Santos, triggering 60% of the contractual dayrate and opening the operating phase under a long-term charter.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

BW Offshore confirmed the achievement of First Gas on its Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit BW Opal, dedicated to the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Barossa project operated by Santos. This milestone opens the operating phase and triggers 60% of the dayrate provided for under the charter. The Ready for Start-Up (RFSU) status had been validated a few days earlier, in line with the contractual schedule. The transition from project to operations is now under way.

Operational milestones and maintenance requirements

First Gas marks the shift to operations and confirms the availability of systems required for stable production. RFSU was reached on 16 September, the prior milestone to ramp-up. First Gas followed on 20 September. These steps condition remuneration progression and structure preparation of maintenance activities during the initial optimisation phase.

The next milestone, the Interim Performance Test (IPT), will raise remuneration to 85%. Practical Completion (PC) will trigger 100% of the dayrate and the start of the 15-year firm contract. This sequence of milestones is explicitly tied to remuneration thresholds of 60%, 85% and 100%. It frames expected operational reliability and the organisation of maintenance interventions in steady state.

Processing capacities and operating scope

BW Opal is designed to process up to 850 mn standard cubic feet per day (million standard cubic feet per day, MMSCFD) of gas. It has a capacity of 11,000 barrels per day of stabilised condensate. The unit operates on the Barossa field, 285 kilometres offshore Darwin, in the Northern Territory. The FPSO is assigned to treating volumes from the reservoir.

Progression to IPT and PC will occur after validation of technical and performance criteria defined contractually. At PC, the 15-year firm period of the charter will begin, ensuring activation of the full dayrate. Successive milestones map inspections, schedule interventions and guarantee availability in the operating phase. “Reaching First Gas on BW Opal is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of our teams, contractors, and partners,” said Marco Beenen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BW Offshore.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Statkraft files application to increase production at Alta by 20%
Russian Arctic LNG 2 deliveries to Asia to slow this winter
Iraq and Oman in talks to build new oil pipeline to secure exports to Asia
Ørsted launches capital increase to fund Sunrise Wind and strengthen structure
Argentina targets Brazil for gas exports despite Bolivian fees
Cedar LNG becomes the world’s first majority Indigenous-owned LNG terminal
The Cedar LNG project, 50.1% controlled by the Haisla Nation, marks a first in the global gas industry, supported by a record C$1,4bn ($1,03bn) loan.
US gas projects slowed by supply chain despite faster federal permitting
Natural gas executives report delays due to turbines, steel and legal risk, even as federal approval timelines improve.
Brussels seeks to accelerate ban on Russian LNG in 19th sanctions package
The European Commission is preparing a new sanctions package including an accelerated ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, with negotiations already underway among member states.
GasHub deploys LNG infrastructure for major food manufacturer in Singapore
H2G Green Limited’s subsidiary completed the conversion of an industrial site from diesel to liquefied natural gas, marking a shift in local manufacturing energy demand.
Novatek redirects 70,000 tonnes of condensate to Novorossiisk after Ust-Luga incident
Russian producer Novatek rerouted part of its gas condensate output to the port of Novorossiisk, following a temporary shutdown at its Ust-Luga complex after a drone attack caused a fire.
Ukraine seeks $1bn to secure gas reserves ahead of winter
Despite gas stocks covering over 80% of winter needs, Kyiv must still import more to offset the impact of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.
Brussels and Washington prepare new energy sanctions against Moscow
The European Commission and the United States plan to intensify their economic measures against Russia, targeting the energy sector and cryptocurrencies in a new sanctions package.
Adnoc withdraws $18.7 billion bid to acquire Santos
The consortium led by Adnoc ends its acquisition plans for Santos, the Australian liquefied natural gas supplier, citing commercial and contractual factors that impacted the evaluation of its offer.
South Africa: Supreme Court annuls Eskom’s permit for 3 GW gas power plant
Eskom must restart the entire administrative process for its Richards Bay gas plant after South Africa’s Supreme Court cancelled its permit, citing insufficient public consultation.
QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies launch final phase of major gas project in Iraq
QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies and Basra Oil Company begin construction of the final infrastructure components of Iraq’s integrated gas project, mobilising more than $13bn in investments to modernise the country’s energy supply.
CPS Energy acquires 1,632 MW of natural gas capacity from ProEnergy for $1.39bn
Texas-based utility CPS Energy acquires four natural gas power plants from ProEnergy for $1.39bn, strengthening its footprint in the ERCOT market with operational dual-fuel infrastructure.
MCF Energy reaches 3,310 metres on the Kinsau-1A well in Germany
MCF Energy has completed drilling of the Kinsau-1A well in Bavaria at 3,310 metres, reaching its geological targets with hydrocarbon presence, reaffirming the company’s commitment to its European gas projects.
Italian judge approves extradition of Ukrainian linked to Nord Stream sabotage
A Ukrainian national arrested in Italy will be extradited to Germany, where he is suspected of coordinating the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Bringing forward the EU gas ban would push up TTF in Central Europe
Starting the ban on Russian gas as early as 2026 would raise benchmark prices, with a spread close to $1/MMBTU in 2026–2027 and spikes above $20/MMBTU in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, amid tight regional supply and limited LNG availability.
Egypt signs new deals to revive domestic gas production
Cairo has concluded three new exploration agreements with Apache, Dragon Oil and Perenco, for a total investment of over $121mn, as national gas output continues to decline.
Fifth sanctioned Russian LNG carrier docks at Beihai terminal in China
The Iris carrier, part of the Arctic LNG 2 project, docked at China’s Beihai terminal despite US and EU sanctions, signalling intensifying gas flows between Russia and China.
Blackstone acquires Hill Top Energy Center for nearly $1bn in Pennsylvania
Blackstone Energy Transition Partners announces the acquisition of a 620-megawatt gas-fired power plant for nearly $1bn, reinforcing its energy investment strategy at the core of America’s digital infrastructure.
Nigeria and Libya study 3,300 km gas pipeline to connect to Europe
Nigeria and Libya have initiated technical discussions on a new pipeline project to transport Nigerian gas to Europe through the Mediterranean network.
China–Russia: Beijing secures a gas hedge with PoS2 and LNG cargoes
Shipments of liquefied natural gas and higher pipeline flows strengthen China’s gas optionality, while testing the sanctions regime and reshaping price–volume trade-offs for the next decade.
Canada fast-tracks five major energy and mining projects
The Canadian government aims to reduce approval delays for strategic projects, including liquefied natural gas, nuclear and mining operations, amid growing trade tensions with the United States.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.