Italian engineering giant Saipem has announced the achievement of first gas ahead of schedule at Scarabeo 5, a semi-submersible drilling rig successfully converted into a floating production unit for Eni’s Congo LNG project off the coast of the Republic of Congo. The milestone officially launches Phase 2 of Congo LNG, the country’s inaugural natural gas liquefaction project, with the first LNG cargo export targeted for early 2026. Saipem emphasized that the achievement came ahead of the original timeline, showcasing the company’s fast-track execution capabilities.
“With this achievement, Phase 2 of Eni’s Congo LNG project is officially underway, targeting the export of the first LNG cargo in early 2026. This major milestone highlights our fast-track execution capabilities and our distinctive approach, which has enabled us to significantly reduce project time to market,” the Italian giant stated.
Saipem handled engineering, procurement, construction, transportation, and commissioning of the floating production unit, while CIMC Raffles was responsible for the main conversion activities. The conversion process included dismantling the drilling system, repairing and refurnishing the marine system, implementing new topside process modules, and transforming the vessel into a fully integrated gas treatment, separation, and compression unit. The confirmation follows Eni’s announcement of Congo LNG Phase 2 startup, which enables the FLNG Nguya to operate alongside the FLNG Tango, which has been deployed at the project since late 2023. The project is designed to exploit gas resources from the Marine XII project through the installation of two floating LNG units at the Nenè and Litchendjili fields.
Scarabeo 5 now incorporates advanced decarbonization solutions, demonstrating how circular economy principles and industrial reuse can drive sustainable energy innovation, according to Saipem. The company extended special thanks to its onshore and offshore teams in Congo for ensuring a safe and successful startup.
Source: offshore-energy.biz