Woodside said the FPSO will be a Suezmax-type trading tanker modified for FPSO operations. It will be 270m in length, made of double-hull construction with deadweight of about 150,000 tonnes.

The FPSO will have a capacity of about 900,000 barrels of oil and a production rate at peak of about 100,000 barrels a day. The vessel will also be self-propelled and be able to disconnect from the turret mooring and sail away in cyclones, Woodside said.

Located in permit WA-271P, about 130km west of Onslow, Enfield is estimated to have reserves in excess of 100 million barrels. According to Woodside, the hull contract is the first major element in development of the field with a final investment decision on the project to be made in the second quarter of 2004. First oil from the field is scheduled for 2006.

Woodside added tenders for turret mooring and the engineering, procurement and construction management contract for the FPSO project will be invited within the next few weeks. Procurement of topsides equipment and topside fabrication will begin in later this year.