BP’s biggest project achieves ‘key milestone’ as FLNG gets first gas

With floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) commissioning activities in full swing, BP, the UK-headquartered energy giant, has achieved another first at a gas development off the coasts of Mauritania and Senegal, which is said to be the biggest project in its portfolio and one of the deepest, most complex gas developments in Africa.  

BP’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which flowed the first gas from its subsea wells to the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) GTA a few weeks ago, has started the full commissioning of Golar LNG’s FLNG Gimi, which received feed gas from the FPSO on January 18, 2025.

According to Golar LNG, gas from the British Sponsor LNG carrier was being used to undertake advanced commissioning work before receiving gas from the FPSO. The firm describes this achievement as the “key milestone” that has allowed the full commissioning activity to ramp up.

As a result, the first LNG export cargo is now expected within Q1 2025, with the full commercial operations date (COD) anticipated within Q2 2025, subject to all conditions being met. Golar LNG underlines that the first gas to the FLNG will enable the final upward adjustment to the commissioning rate under the commercial reset agreed in August 2024.

Furthermore, the company explains that COD will trigger the start of the 20-year lease and operate agreement that unlocks the equivalent of around $3 billion of adjusted EBITDA backlog as the firm’s share and recognition of contractual payments composed of capital and operating elements in both the balance sheet and income statement.

The GTA Phase 1 development, perceived to have the deepest subsea infrastructure in Africa with wells in water depths of up to 2,850 meters, will produce around 2.3 million tons of LNG annually for over 20 years.

Gas flows to the FPSO GTA approximately 40 kilometers offshore, where water, condensate, and impurities get removed, enabling this gas to be transferred via pipeline to the FLNG Gimi. BP is the operator of GTA with a 56% working interest, alongside Kosmos Energy (27%), Petrosen (10%), and SMH (7%). 

BP refers to the GTA gas development as the biggest project in its portfolio, with enough gas to support production for at least two decades, as the total estimated gas resources in the field amount to around 15 trillion cubic feet. The UK-headquartered giant is working on many projects across the globe.

Recently, the firm completed drilling activities at two wells, targeting to bring them on stream next month; thus, subsea commissioning operations are ongoing in the Mediterranean Sea as a Valaris-owned drillship heads to the next well on its drilling agenda in the East Mediterranean (East Med).