French tubing manufacturer Vallourec has been awarded a contract by Azule Energy for the Greater PAJ offshore development project in Angola, according to Splash247.
Project Overview
The $5.1bn Greater PAJ project is located approximately 200 km offshore Angola in water depths ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 m. It encompasses the development of five offshore fields – Palas, Astraea, Juno, Dione and Urano. First oil is expected in less than three years, in the first half of 2029. The project is one of the largest and most technically demanding deepwater projects currently underway offshore Angola. Eni and BP, through Azule Energy, announced the final investment decision for the project last week. Sonangol E&P and Equinor are partners in the project.
Contract Details
Under this contract, Vallourec will supply more than 26,000 tons of seamless carbon steel line pipes, representing approximately 210 km of pipeline. The pipes will include advanced solutions with heavy thermal insulation coating. The project will involve one of the thickest thermal insulation systems ever implemented in the subsea industry, with a glass syntactic polypropylene thickness of up to 120 mm. Vallourec will deliver line pipe solutions for production, service, water injection, and gas export lines. Deliveries associated with this order will begin in July 2027 and continue through December 2027.
| Contract Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contractor | Vallourec |
| Client | Azule Energy (Eni/BP joint venture) |
| Product | Seamless carbon steel line pipes |
| Quantity | >26,000 tons (~210 km) |
| Insulation | Glass syntactic polypropylene up to 120 mm |
| Delivery Period | July 2027 – December 2027 |
Supply Chain and Infrastructure
The overall development concept consists of 17 wells connected to a new FPSO with a nameplate capacity of 95,000 barrels of oil per day and a gas export capacity of 70 million cubic feet of gas per day. Gas will be delivered to the Angola LNG (ALNG) plant via a new gas export line tied to the existing Block 31 gas export network. The contract for the construction of the FPSO unit was awarded to Chinese yard CIMC Raffles.
Timeline and Partners
Azule has already awarded several contracts for work on the Greater PAJ development. Saipem won a $1bn deal for transportation and installation services, with a duration of around 40 months. TechnipFMC secured a contract to provide flexible flowlines and risers. First oil is targeted for the first half of 2029.
Implications for Energy Markets
This project represents significant investment in Angola's offshore oil and gas sector. The supply of line pipes and other infrastructure will support hydrocarbon production in ultra-deepwater conditions. The project adds to global oil supply capacity, with potential impacts on crude oil markets. The development of the Greater PAJ fields is a key step in maintaining and expanding Angola's position as a major oil producer, with first oil expected within three years.
Sources:
