The Aoka Mizu FPSO, owned by Bluewater Energy Services, has arrived in Singapore for refurbishment at Seatrium ahead of its deployment at the Sea Lion offshore oil project in the Falkland Islands.
The vessel arrived in September 2026 for upgrades, life-extension work and the installation of a new mooring system. It has been contracted for an initial 12-year period, with eight additional one-year extension options.
Following the refurbishment, the FPSO is expected to have an oil production capacity of 55,000 barrels per day at the Sea Lion field. The vessel previously operated at the Lancaster field west of Shetland after serving the Ettrick and Blackbird fields in the North Sea.
The refurbishment was originally planned to take place in the Middle East but was relocated to Asia due to the security situation arising from the Iran conflict. The change increased the development budget by approximately $45 million.
Sea Lion is operated by Navitas Petroleum, which holds a 65% interest, while Rockhopper Exploration owns the remaining 35%. Development drilling is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with first oil from the Northern Development Area targeted for the first quarter of 2028.
The project also faces legal opposition from Argentina, which claims sovereignty over the British-administered Falkland Islands. In September 2026, Argentina filed a criminal complaint against Navitas over its oil development activities. The project partners maintain that they hold valid petroleum licences issued by the Falkland Islands government.
