U.S. offshore engineering giant McDermott has achieved a significant milestone in West African energy infrastructure by successfully completing its first subsea project in Angola, marking a major win for deepwater operations in the region. The company announced on October 16 that it has wrapped up all engineering, procurement, construction, installation, pre-commissioning and commissioning activities for TotalEnergies’ Begonia field development in Block 17/06, located approximately 150 kilometers off the Angolan coast.
The project, which was awarded in 2022, showcased McDermott’s integrated subsea capabilities across multiple vessels and operations. The company’s Amazon vessel installed over 40 kilometers of rigid pipelines while the North Ocean 102 vessel handled the subsea umbilical scope, demonstrating the scale and complexity of the deepwater installation. The development consists of five subsea wells tied back to the existing Pazflor floating production, storage and offloading vessel in Block 17.
“This milestone reflects the strength of our integrated subsea capabilities, executed seamlessly from engineering through offshore installation,” said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott’s Senior Vice President for Subsea and Floating Facilities. “It reinforces the strategic value the Amazon brings to our operations, especially in markets where deepwater infrastructure plays a vital role in advancing energy security.”
First oil from Begonia was achieved in July 2025, and the new infrastructure is now expected to add approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day to Pazflor’s existing production capacity, providing a substantial boost to TotalEnergies’ output in the prolific Block 17 area. This additional production capacity strengthens Angola’s position as a major African oil producer and demonstrates the continued viability of deepwater investments in the region.
Swaminathan emphasized that the successful completion speaks to the strength of McDermott’s partnership with TotalEnergies, the commitment of local teams and partners in Angola, and the strategic importance of West Africa in the company’s global portfolio. The project followed McDermott’s integrated execution model, drawing on global engineering and procurement expertise, growing onshore fabrication capabilities in Luanda, and offshore installation supported by its versatile marine fleet.
Sources: offshore-energy.biz, oedigital.com