Government officials and private sector stakeholders gathered at Friedlander Guyana’s facility on June 9 to celebrate the first high-pressure process pipe fabrication scope for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to be executed here by Guyanese workers.
This is according to a release from Sagacity.
The ceremony, hosted by SBM Offshore in collaboration with ExxonMobil Guyana and Friedlander Energy (Guyana), marked the successful completion of the Water Injection Riser Depressurization (WIRD) Project.
Completed for the FPSO Liza Unity by Friedlander Guyana, a new entrant to the local industrial fabrication market, the project represented one of the most technically demanding fabrication activities in the offshore industry, the release said.
The pipe systems, which are designed to operate under some of the highest water pressures on the vessel, were crafted with zero weld defects and zero weld repairs, demonstrating the quality and capability of the local workforce, Sagacity said. The project was executed by SBM Offshore Guyana and ExxonMobil Guyana’s Brownfield Projects.
SBM Offshore Guyana’s General Manager, Martin Cheong, emphasized the broader significance of the achievement.
“The WIRD project is more than a milestone—it is evidence of what can be achieved when world-class partners place confidence in local talent and work together to unlock its full potential. It provides a glimpse into the future of Guyana’s energy industry, where Guyanese companies and professionals continue to play an increasingly significant role in supporting one of the world’s most dynamic energy sectors,” he stated.
Friedlander Guyana’s Director and Co-owner, Dr. Carla Crawford, spoke of the effort required to prepare the company and workforce for the project.
“The success belongs first and foremost to the teams, the teams in the yard on the workshop floor working through every stage, cutting, fitting, welding, testing, painting, meeting some of the most demanding technical requirements in the offshore industry. They learned, they adapted, they pushed themselves to meet international standards and they succeeded. In doing so they demonstrated something essential; that Guyanese talent, Guyanese companies can deliver specialized offshore projects at the highest level,” she said.
To execute the project, Sagacity said that Friedlander Guyana underwent a rigorous qualification process that included vendor audits, weld procedure qualification, extensive material testing performed in internationally accredited laboratories under the supervision of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) representatives, ABS classification approvals and the training and qualification of Guyanese welders. The project also encompassed cutting, fitting, non-destructive testing, hydrotesting, blasting and painting.
ExxonMobil Guyana’s Production Manager, Huzefa Ali, emphasized the importance of developing local technical capability to support the long-term needs of the oil and gas industry.
“As Guyana’s energy partner, ExxonMobil Guyana, remains firmly committed to the country’s development and building capabilities as this event demonstrates. We continue to invest strategically in communities across the country, workforce development and advance of local capability,” he said.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, commended the collaborative effort behind the project.
“The future ahead is a bright one for Guyana, [it] is a bright one for the local entities that are taking the risk and investing and is also a good opportunity for private and foreign investment in Guyana. This is a true reflection of a lot of hard work by a number of people,” he stated.
Sagacity said that the project resulted in Guyanese welders helping to develop and qualify the welding procedures used for the scope, while additional personnel achieved ABS certification, further strengthening Guyana’s pool of internationally qualified technical talent. While this initial phase was done in support of the FPSO Liza Unity, similar projects will eventually be executed and expanded to other FPSOs built by both SBM Offshore and other FPSO builders as needed.
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