McDermott International Ltd. has announced the completion of engineering, procurement, construction, installation, pre-commissioning and commissioning activities for the Begonia field development for TotalEnergies SE. This project represents McDermott’s first subsea operation in Angola, in Block 17/06, located approximately 150 kilometres off the Atlantic coast.
An integrated execution from Houston to Luanda
The contract, awarded in 2022, relied on McDermott’s integrated execution model. The company deployed its global engineering and procurement expertise while strengthening its onshore fabrication capacity in Luanda. The offshore phase was carried out by McDermott’s marine fleet, including the Amazon vessel, which laid more than 40 kilometres of rigid pipelines, and the North Ocean 102, responsible for subsea umbilical installation.
The Begonia project includes five subsea wells tied back to the existing Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Pazflor, already operational in Block 17. First oil was achieved in July, adding approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day to the FPSO’s current production capacity.
Enhanced capacity for Angola and the region
This development is part of TotalEnergies’ strategy to maximise value from its West African assets while maintaining steady production from its floating infrastructure. McDermott’s contribution to this operation also consolidates its presence in technically and logistically demanding offshore areas.
According to Mahesh Swaminathan, Senior Vice President for Subsea and Floating Facilities at McDermott, the project’s success demonstrates the effectiveness of the company’s integrated approach and the strategic value of the Amazon vessel for deepwater operations.
Stronger positioning in the West African market
The completion of the Begonia field also confirms Angola’s growing role as a hub for oil development in the region, as several international groups expand their project portfolios in the Gulf of Guinea. The integration of local teams and mobilisation of Angolan partners helped strengthen the project’s local value chain.
The company did not disclose financial details of the contract. However, the project’s completion opens the door to new opportunities for McDermott in sub-Saharan offshore markets, particularly in regions with high potential for complex subsea infrastructure.
