EOC'S LATEST AND BIGGEST FPSO SET TO COMMENCE GROUP'S LARGEST-EVER CHARTER IN 4Q FY11
n Freshly christened, Lewek EMAS will be chartered to Premier Oil for up to 12 years under US$1b contract clinched in 2009
n EOC’s latest FPSO is expected to boost the Group’s recurrent income stream from FY11
n Expected delivery of FPSO meets Group’s strategic goal of adding an FPSO to its fleet every 18-24 months as offshore E&P activities pick up
SINGAPORE, 18 April 2011
The strategic growth plans of EOC Limited (EOC or the Group), one of Asia’s leading providers of offshore construction and production services to the oil and gas (O&G) sector, to strengthen its recurrent income base, are firmly on track as it moves to initiate its largest-ever charter contract, worth up to US$1 billion with all extension options exercised, in 4Q FY11.
Under the contract secured in 2009, Lewek EMAS – the Group’s newest and biggest floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel – will be chartered to Premier Oil Vietnam Offshore B.V. for up to 12 years. The charter covers a primary term of six years, with six renewable one-year extension options. The client is a unit of the UK-based Premier Oil group, a leading independent exploration and production (E&P) company in the offshore sector.
Only recently christened at Singapore’s Keppel Shipyard on 15 April 2011, the vessel is expected to commence production in the Chim Sao field, off Vietnam in 4Q FY11. Its assignment will include the processing of oil and natural gas liquids as well as water injection. There are also plans to deploy the Lewek EMAS – whose disconnectable turret mooring system makes it highly versatile – to help develop marginal fields around Chim Sao.
Mr Lim Kwee Keong, EOC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Winning such a major contract demonstrated the conviction that clients have in EOC’s in-house engineering and marine expertise, as well as our project management capability when handling challenging offshore projects.
Now, the vessel’s expected timely delivery will not only boost the Group’s operational track record, it also confirms our ability to advance plans for augmenting the fleet with at least one FPSO every 18-24 months. This strategic fleet enhancement programme will allow the Group to capture new opportunities and maximise vessel utilisation as increased offshore E&P activity creates mounting demand for FPSOs, particularly, ones with the capability to successfully take on even the most challenging conditions.
The Lewek EMAS is EOC’s second FPSO to be commissioned since we listed on the Oslo Børs in 2007; our first was delivered in late 2009. We expect this latest vessel to contribute to the Group’s recurrent income stream starting from financial year 2011.”
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the Lewek EMAS can produce up to 50,000 barrels of oil a day and store up to 680,000 barrels. Its operations and maintenance will be managed by a 50-50 venture owned jointly by EOC and PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation (PVTrans), a maritime transport and service provider in the offshore O&G sector. Under the venture, EOC will share and transfer its knowledge and expertise in operating and managing the Lewek EMAS with PVTrans as they work together to carry out offshore processing of crude oil.
EOC’s first FPSO, the Lewek Arunothai, achieved full production and received acceptance from the client, a publicly listed national petroleum E&P company, in October 2009. It has been a strong revenue contributor to the Group ever since.
EOC recently reported a net profit of US$6.8 million, after achieving revenue of US$38.6 million, for its second quarter which ended February 2011.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
www.emasoffshore-cnp.com
Oslo Børs listing: October 2007
EOC Limited offers offshore construction & floating production services and installation & commissioning work as well as transportation services that support the entire life cycle of offshore oil & gas production.
It manages two heavy-lift accommodation crane barges, the Lewek Conqueror and the Lewek Chancellor; a dynamically positioned heavy-lift accommodation pipelay vessel, the Lewek Champion; and a floating production, storage and offloading unit, the Lewek Arunothai. These vessels are utilised in various support activities that last through facility development, production, operations, maintenance and abandonment.
The firm operates in Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Middle East, the Philippines and Thailand, and is an associate company of Singapore Exchange-listed Ezra Holdings Limited, the largest owner/operator of an integrated range of offshore support vessels for charter across a broad spectrum of the oil & gas offshore support services supply chain.
FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES
Mr. Chan Eng Yew
EOC Limited
65 9792 8616
engyew.chan@emasoffshore-cnp.com
Ms. Carol Chong
Oaktree Advisers
65 9475 3167
carolchong@oaktreeadvisers.com
Ms. Nora Cheng
Oaktree Advisers
65 9634 7450
noracheng@oaktreeadvisers.com
Other media releases on the company can be accessed at www.oaktreeadvisers.com