SBM Offshore & Technip Energies Joint Venture (STS JV) and TotalEnergies EP Suriname have signed an agreement with Beyond the Sea to evaluate wind-assisted kite traction towing for the FPSO GranMorgu.
The assessment will examine the use of Beyond the Sea’s SeaKite 2400 system during the tow from the FPSO construction site in China to the GranMorgu development offshore Suriname.
The partners aim to determine whether kite-assisted traction could reduce towing time and fuel consumption. The initiative will also provide a case study for evaluating the technology on large-scale vessels.
The work will follow a phased research and development approach. It will cover technology development and qualification, costs, operational readiness and an extensive onshore testing programme before potential integration on the FPSO GranMorgu in China.
Progression to each subsequent stage will depend on predefined technical and safety criteria, according to SBM Offshore.
The programme will also assess the kite wing launch and recovery system. Data collected during the work will be used to optimise system sizing through digital modelling.
The SeaKite 2400 can provide automated traction during the journey, depending on wind conditions.
SBM Offshore said the initiative is being assessed as a first-of-a-kind application of kite traction towing for an FPSO. The vessel’s characteristics and the complexity of the offshore development will require coordination among the participating companies and a specific risk management approach.
Laurent Le Touze, Group Technology and Product Development Director at SBM Offshore, said the partners are evaluating whether wind-assisted propulsion can improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions associated with offshore logistics for the GranMorgu project.
Yves Parlier, founder of Beyond the Sea, said the project would support the further development of the company’s kite traction technology and assess its operation in a demanding offshore application.
The FPSO GranMorgu will serve the GranMorgu development in Block 58, around 150 km offshore Suriname. TotalEnergies sanctioned the development following progress in front-end engineering and design studies for the Sapakara South and Krabdagu discoveries.
The fields contain estimated recoverable resources of more than 750 million barrels and are located in water depths ranging from 100 m to 1,000 m.
The project was initially estimated at about $10.5 billion, while its total investment value could reach up to $12.2 billion. First oil is scheduled for 2028.
The FPSO GranMorgu will have production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day. Its design will also accommodate future tie-back opportunities intended to extend the production plateau.
Frédéric Beys, GranMorgu Project Director at TotalEnergies, said the evaluation supports the company’s focus on improving energy efficiency and assessing the scale-up of the SeaKite system during the FPSO towing phase.
