ONGC is sounding out the market for two or more offshore units to support the development of marginal oil and gas fields in India’s Western Offshore, with MOPU, FPSO and FPU solutions under consideration.
The company issued an Expression of Interest on 24 September 2026 to assess the vendor base and market capacity for MOPU units in jack-up or floating configurations, as well as FPSO and FPU facilities.
The programme covers three groups of marginal fields in the Western Offshore. ONGC is tentatively assessing opportunities for two or more offshore units, with an expected contract period of seven fixed years plus three optional years.
Indicative technical requirements differ across the three field groups. Group 1 comprises oil and gas fields requiring oil processing capacity of 6,000–16,000 BOPD and gas processing capacity of 0.3–1.9 MMSCMD in water depths of 55–65 m. Water handling capacity is indicated at 2,000–10,000 BWPD, while the gas may contain up to 6,800 ppm H2S.
Group 2 is also an oil and gas development, with indicative requirements of 4,200 BOPD of oil processing and 0.05 MMSCMD of gas processing in water depths of 15–25 m. Group 3 is a gas development requiring 2.0–3.0 MMSCMD of gas processing capacity in water depths of 80–95 m.
For an FPSO solution, ONGC has indicated usable crude storage capacity of 0.3 mmbbl. Stabilized crude would be tandem-offloaded to an LR1 tanker as the nominal case, with Aframax vessels forming the design criterion. A double hull is required, while either turret or spread mooring may be considered.
The indicative scope allows for conversion or newbuild solutions and includes the hull, mooring and offtake systems, oil and gas processing topsides and gas compression facilities. It also covers engineering, procurement, construction, assembly, mechanical completion, inshore commissioning, tow, transport, installation, hook-up and offshore commissioning.
Pipelines extending to the nearest processing points would remain within ONGC’s scope, while the MOPU, FPSO or FPU would be required to support the necessary interfaces and hook-up connections.
Responses are invited from companies with relevant offshore experience, as well as consortiums or joint ventures. The EOI also identifies EPC contractors, shipyards, vessel conversion yards, mooring and offshore infrastructure specialists, and integrated floating production solution providers as potential participants.
Interested parties have been asked to provide information on available units and deployment timelines, indicative lease and commercial structures, brownfield conversion capabilities, technology proposals and company financial standing.
The deadline for EOI submissions is 7 October 2026.
ONGC stated that the EOI is solely intended for market exploration. It does not constitute a commercial tender or request for proposal and does not commit the company to proceed with a procurement process.
