Expressions of interest (EoIs) released for Equinor's proposed Bay du Nord deepwater project offshore eastern Canada reveal specific technical requirements and a detailed development timeline. The project centers on a 160,000 barrels per day floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, to be provided by BW Offshore, which will be installed in about 1200 metres of water in the Flemish Pass basin. It will be tied back to as many as 42 subsea wells across multiple fields, including Bay du Nord, Cambriol, and Cappahayden.

Procurement and Development Timeline

Equinor has issued EoIs for drilling, cementing, completion, wireline, and fluid services, with responses due by January 2026. The Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA) of SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7, tasked with the subsea system, has released EoIs for a dynamic power cable and for the design and fabrication of a flexible riser system. The riser system, based on a tethered lazy-wave configuration, must connect to a disconnectable submerged turret production buoy to allow the FPSO to move during iceberg threats. Initial engineering studies could begin in early 2026, with fabrication potentially running from 2027 to 2031. Drilling operations are expected to start in the second half of 2029 at the earliest, though engineering support may begin in the second half of 2026.

Reservoir Characteristics and Technical Challenges

The initial development phase will target the Bay du Nord and Cambriol discoveries via up to 16 wells. The EoIs detail specific downhole conditions: Bay du Nord reservoir pressures and temperatures are up to 5800 psi and 85°C, while Cambriol reaches up to 11,600 psi and 150°C. Although not formally classified as high pressure/high temperature by API standards, bidders are advised that "special consideration" is required for Cambriol's higher pressures and temperatures. The documentation also confirms the need for "sour service equipment," indicating the presence of corrosive hydrogen sulphide in one or more discoveries, which will be removed via an amine unit on the FPSO.

Well Design and Completion Specifications

The project will include production, water injection, and water-alternating-gas injection wells with deviated or horizontal trajectories, all requiring sand control. Due to metallurgy and density requirements, well casing and tubing may have high chrome content to withstand corrosive environments like those containing hydrogen sulphide. Furthermore, drilling and completion fluids may be of high density and may include cesium formate brine, which is used to control high-pressure formations and prevent well kicks, particularly relevant for the Cambriol reservoir.

Strategic Context and Future Plans

The agreements stemming from these EoIs are intended to facilitate future exploration activities aimed at identifying additional resources for tie-back developments. This follows two unsuccessful exploration wells drilled last year. The development plan allows for well construction activities both before and after the FPSO's arrival, with the potential to further develop existing discoveries through future tiebacks.