Agogo FPSO Sets Production Record While Maintaining Zero Routine Flaring

Agogo FPSO has reached 80,150 barrels per day, its highest rate since first oil, while continuing to maintain zero routine flaring during the production ramp-up.

Azule Energy said on 5 October that the Agogo floating production, storage and offloading unit offshore Angola had reached 80,150 barrels per day, its highest production rate since first oil in July 2025, while continuing to operate with zero routine flaring. The increase followed the tie-in of Agogo early-production wells and ongoing production optimisation.

Agogo FPSO is designed to process 120,000 barrels of oil per day. The latest rate is about 66.8% of nameplate capacity, leaving further room for ramp-up as additional wells are connected. In this context, zero routine flaring refers to flaring during normal production; it does not mean the flare system will never be used during start-ups, maintenance or emergencies.

Associated-gas handling can become a constraint as offshore oil production rises. The World Bank defines routine flaring as the continuous burning of associated gas during normal oil production when there is no adequate route for its use, export or reinjection. Agogo’s ability to raise oil output while maintaining zero routine flaring therefore tests more than a single emissions metric: it depends on the coordinated performance of gas processing, power generation and production-control systems.

The FPSO incorporates a closed-flare system, combined-cycle power generation, all-electric drives and automated process controls. It also carries the first operating pilot-scale post-combustion carbon-capture system on an FPSO. These features are intended to reduce routine emissions and energy losses, although their performance over a sustained period at higher production rates will be the more meaningful test.

Agogo FPSO is the centrepiece of the Agogo Integrated West Hub development in Block 15/06, covering the Agogo and Ndungu fields. The unit achieved first oil on 29 July 2025. Under the development plan, the Agogo and Ngoma FPSOs are expected to handle combined peak production of about 175,000 barrels per day from the two fields.

Azule Energy brought the first three producing wells in the Ndungu full-field development on stream in February. Initial volumes are tied back through existing subsea infrastructure to Ngoma FPSO, with later production planned to move to Agogo FPSO. The next stage of Agogo’s ramp-up will therefore depend on the pace of well tie-ins, integration across the two fields and the continued reliability of the associated-gas systems.

Agogo FPSO was converted from a very large crude carrier, with the main conversion and integration work completed in China. The vessel entered China Resources Dadong in 2023 for hull, piping, cabling and coating work, together with construction and installation of modules including the accommodation block, power module and flare tower. It moved to COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry in Shanghai in July 2024 for the second phase, including the lifting of 10 topside modules weighing more than 15,000 tonnes in total, followed by integration and commissioning. The FPSO was named in Shanghai on 20 February 2025 and sailed for Angola on 3 March.