Wison Starts Construction of Baleine Phase 3 FPSO
Wison New Energies has completed first steel cutting for the newbuild Baleine Phase 3 FPSO, marking the start of shipyard construction for Eni’s Côte d’Ivoire development.
On August 30, 2026, shipyard construction began on the Baleine Phase 3 FPSO for offshore Côte d’Ivoire, with Wison New Energies completing first steel cutting for the hull. Wison, the project’s EPCIC contractor, said the next major fabrication milestone will be first steel cutting for the topsides.
Eni is leading the Baleine Phase 3 development. On May 25, 2026, Eni and partners Petroci and Vitol took the final investment decision for the project. On July 3, Wison signed the EPCIC contract for the newbuild FPSO with Eni and Altera Infrastructure. Having previously participated in FEED, Wison will continue into EPCIC execution, covering engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning.
Newbuild FPSO enters construction
According to Wison, the FPSO will be about 308 metres long, with a moulded breadth of 57 metres and a moulded depth of 29.8 metres. It is designed for water depths of around 800 to 1,200 metres, with oil-processing capacity of 90,000 barrels per day, produced-water treatment capacity of 80,000 barrels per day and gas-processing capacity of 160 million cubic feet per day. Its design life is at least 20 years. Altera has stated that the unit will also provide storage for about 1.4 million barrels of crude oil.
Altera Infrastructure will own the FPSO and provide long-term operations after delivery. The project agreements include a fixed 15-year bareboat charter and associated operating agreements. Altera was also involved in Baleine Phase 2 and operates the FPSO Petrojarl Kong and FSO Yamoussoukro used in that phase.
A phased development moves toward full capacity
The Baleine oil and gas field was discovered offshore Côte d’Ivoire in 2021 and is the country’s largest hydrocarbon discovery to date. The project follows a fast-track, phased development model: Phase 1 started production in August 2023 and Phase 2 in December 2024. Unlike the first two phases, which relied primarily on the conversion and redeployment of existing floating units, Phase 3 adds this newbuild FPSO under construction by Wison.
Under Eni’s Phase 3 development plan announced in May, full-field Baleine production is expected to rise from about 60,000 to 150,000 barrels of oil per day and from 80 to 200 million cubic feet of gas per day. All gas produced is intended for Côte d’Ivoire’s domestic market, supporting local energy supply and power generation.