SLB OneSubsea Secures Major Umbilical Contract for Eni’s Kutei North Hub Development Offshore Indonesia
SLB has announced that its subsea technology joint venture, OneSubsea™, has been awarded a significant contract by Eni North Ganal Limited to supply a large-scale steel tube umbilical system for the Kutei North Hub development project located offshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Eni North Ganal Limited is a subsidiary of Searah Limited, a joint venture established between global energy companies Eni and PETRONAS.
The contract represents an important milestone for both companies and highlights the growing momentum of deepwater oil and gas developments in Southeast Asia. The Kutei North Hub project is regarded as one of the most important offshore developments in the region and is expected to play a key role in strengthening Indonesia’s long-term energy production capabilities.
Under the agreement, SLB OneSubsea will undertake the engineering, procurement and manufacturing of approximately 94.6 kilometers of steel tube umbilicals designed for operations in water depths reaching up to 2,200 meters. The system will have an estimated total weight of around 6,700 tons, making it one of the largest umbilical contracts awarded globally in recent years.
Umbilicals are critical components in offshore oil and gas developments. They serve as the vital connection between subsea production systems and surface facilities by delivering power, hydraulic control, chemicals and communication signals to subsea equipment. Their reliability is essential to ensuring safe and efficient production in complex offshore environments, particularly in deepwater fields where operational conditions are extremely challenging.
The scale of the Kutei North Hub project demonstrates the increasing complexity of modern offshore developments. Deepwater fields require highly specialized technologies and robust infrastructure capable of operating under extreme pressure and environmental conditions. The project’s water depth of up to 2,200 meters places it among the more technically demanding offshore developments currently under execution.
To deliver the project efficiently, SLB OneSubsea plans to leverage its advanced manufacturing capabilities by integrating its proprietary Oscilay™ and planetary production lines. This innovative production approach allows parallel manufacturing activities, significantly improving efficiency compared with traditional single-line manufacturing methods.
By combining these manufacturing technologies, the company expects to reduce production schedules and accelerate delivery timelines while maintaining stringent quality and reliability standards. Faster project execution is increasingly important for operators seeking to bring offshore resources into production more rapidly and improve overall project economics.
Mads Hjelmeland, Chief Executive Officer of SLB OneSubsea, emphasized the importance of collaboration and technological innovation in supporting large-scale offshore developments.
According to Hjelmeland, operators are increasingly seeking strategic partners capable of delivering confidence, reliability and execution excellence in complex projects. He noted that the contract demonstrates SLB OneSubsea’s ability to combine extensive technical expertise with innovative manufacturing solutions that support efficient project delivery while ensuring high performance standards for demanding deepwater applications.
The umbilical system being developed for the Kutei North Hub project has been engineered to withstand a design pressure of 10,000 pounds per square inch (psi). Such high-pressure specifications are essential for ensuring operational integrity in deepwater environments, where subsea equipment is subjected to extreme conditions.
Another notable aspect of the project is the requirement to manufacture a single continuous umbilical length of approximately 30 kilometers. This individual section alone is expected to weigh around 2,100 tons, presenting significant manufacturing and logistical challenges.
Producing and handling a continuous umbilical of this magnitude requires specialized infrastructure, including large-scale carousel systems used for storage and transportation. These large carousels are designed to accommodate massive lengths of subsea cables and umbilicals while minimizing risks associated with handling and deployment.
The project also underscores the growing importance of Indonesia in the global offshore energy sector. Indonesia possesses significant untapped offshore hydrocarbon resources, particularly in deepwater basins, and the government continues to encourage investment in exploration and development activities to strengthen domestic energy security and maintain production levels.
The Kutei Basin, where the North Hub project is located, has long been recognized as one of Indonesia’s most promising hydrocarbon regions. Continued investment in this area reflects confidence in the basin’s resource potential and the role it can play in supporting regional energy demand over the coming decades.
For Eni and PETRONAS, the development aligns with their broader strategy of expanding deepwater operations and leveraging advanced technologies to unlock challenging offshore resources. Both companies have established strong positions in Southeast Asia and continue to pursue opportunities that can contribute to long-term growth and production sustainability.
For SLB OneSubsea, the contract further reinforces its position as a leading provider of subsea production technologies and services. The company has increasingly focused on delivering integrated solutions that combine engineering expertise, advanced manufacturing capabilities and digital technologies to improve project performance and reduce development timelines.
Large-scale contracts such as the Kutei North Hub award also demonstrate the industry’s continued confidence in subsea developments despite evolving global energy dynamics. Deepwater projects remain an important component of the global energy mix, particularly as operators seek to develop high-quality resources with competitive production profiles.
The successful execution of the Kutei North Hub umbilical system will require close collaboration among operators, contractors and manufacturing teams. The complexity of the project highlights the importance of innovation, supply chain coordination and advanced engineering capabilities in delivering next-generation offshore infrastructure.
As offshore developments move into increasingly deeper and more challenging environments, technologies such as high-pressure umbilical systems and advanced manufacturing methods will become even more critical. The project serves as another example of how technological advancements are enabling the energy industry to safely and efficiently develop complex subsea resources.
Key Highlights
- SLB OneSubsea has secured a major contract from Eni North Ganal Limited for the Kutei North Hub project offshore Indonesia.
- The company will engineer, procure and manufacture approximately 94.6 kilometers of steel tube umbilicals.
- The system will support operations in water depths of up to 2,200 meters and will weigh around 6,700 tons.
- The umbilicals are designed to operate at pressures of up to 10,000 psi.
- Production will utilize SLB OneSubsea’s Oscilay and planetary manufacturing technologies to improve efficiency and accelerate delivery.
- The project includes the manufacture of a continuous 30-kilometer umbilical section weighing approximately 2,100 tons.
- The contract highlights the continued growth of deepwater developments in Indonesia and reinforces SLB OneSubsea’s leadership in subsea technology solutions.
Source Link: https://www.slb.com/
