Equinor has initiated a bid process for subsea hardware related to its Bay du Nord project, a significant offshore development in eastern Canada.

Project Overview and Location

The Bay du Nord project is located in the Flemish Pass basin offshore Newfoundland & Labrador, in water depths of 1170 meters. This area is characterized by harsh, iceberg-prone conditions. The development is planned as a multi-field, phased project utilizing subsea wells tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The base-case concept involves a phased subsea development with an initial scope of 16 wells, which could expand to 42 wells, connected to a 160,000-barrels-per-day FPSO.

Development Timeline and Key Contractors

A final investment decision for the project is not expected until late 2026 at the earliest. However, key contractors have already been selected. BW Offshore is set to supply the FPSO, while the Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA)—comprising SLB, OneSubsea, and Subsea7—is responsible for the subsea systems. SIA is currently performing front-end engineering and design (FEED) work for the subsea umbilical, riser, and flowline system.

Expression of Interest for Fabrication Services

SIA has released an Expression of Interest (EoI) for major fabrication services. This EoI seeks contractors to participate in studies scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026. Should the project be sanctioned, these contractors could then be involved in fabrication activities spanning from early 2027 to late 2031.

Specific Requirements for Fabricators

The EoI is specifically targeting companies from Newfoundland & Labrador capable of fabricating large subsea equipment. The required items include integrated template structures (ITS) and manifolds, with individual components weighing up to approximately 400 tonnes. This equipment typically consists of:

• A structural frame
• Large-bore and small-bore piping
• Valves
• Hubs, connectors, and couplers
• Control systems

Interested companies must have access to a dedicated fabrication facility with specific capabilities. The facility must be an enclosed building capable of fabricating multiple 400-tonne structures and allow for their movement within the site. Crucially, the facility must also have direct ocean access with a quayside capable of handling 400-tonne structures and berthing ocean-going vessels. The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is 1 December.

Project Resources and Target

The Bay du Nord project will develop five separate discoveries—Bay du Nord, Cappahayden, and Cambriol among them. According to the local regulator, these discoveries collectively hold more than 1 billion barrels of oil. The project is currently targeting first oil production for 2031.