DNeX acquired the Sevan Hummingbird Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) from marine energy transportation company Teekay Corp, marking an important milestone in the Central North Sea Avalon Development Project.

In March, it received a letter of “no objections” from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) for its proposed Avalon development plans.

Ping has also been recently granted a 19-month extension by NSTA for its licence, giving it additional time to optimise and gain full regulatory approval of the Avalon Field Development Plan.

The proposed development concept includes plans to deploy the Sevan Hummingbird FPSO at the Avalon field which will be modified to facilitate electrification from an external, low-carbon source.

The company is also evaluating options to connect the FPSO to a dedicated floating offshore wind turbine to power the facility to minimise diesel usage and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

The planned development will enable Ping to expand and diversify its portfolio of producing assets in full compliance with the UK’s energy security and net zero targets.

Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, group managing director of DNeX, said the group anticipates full operational deployment of the facility on Avalon by 2025.

“We have a tangible asset ready with the newly acquired Sevan Hummingbird. Our next step is to secure approval for our field development plan, which will be submitted in the coming months,” he said.