Offshore marine services provider Bourbon has secured a long-term agreement with Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. to support its offshore operations in the Philippines.
The contract comprises a three-year firm period with a two-year extension option. The first collaboration with Prime Energy is a milestone for Bourbon, as it establishes a new operational footprint for the group within the Southeast Asian region.
Secured through a commercial partnership with Bahtera Sri Kandi Pte Ltd, the contract is scheduled to commence in August.
It will involve the deployment of the Bourbon Liberty 237, an anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel operated and managed by Bourbon.
To meet the specific requirements of the offshore project, the Bourbon Liberty 237 will undergo a dedicated conversion program to enable the transportation of methanol.
The technical upgrade includes tank modifications, the installation of specialised pumping systems, a nitrogen inert gas system, adapted pipelines, and protective coatings.
The conversion remains subject to regulatory approval by maritime authorities and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) classification society.
Once deployed, the vessel will provide direct support to Prime Energy’s Shallow Water Platform (SWP). Its operational duties will encompass condensate tanker lifting, static towing, standard AHTS operations, and the critical supply of methanol to the platform.
According to Bourbon, the proposed logistics solution is competitive, sustainable, and ready for immediate implementation, effectively consolidating the group’s presence in the competitive Philippine oil and gas market.
“This new contract illustrates Prime Energy’s confidence in BOURBON’s ability to deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective maritime services, in full compliance with stringent regulatory and operational requirements,” said Karim Mebarek, Chief Commercial Officer of Bourbon.
Prime Energy discovered a new natural gas field at Malampaya East-1 in early 2026, the first natural gas discovery in Philippine territory in over a decade.
Malampaya East-1 is a newly discovered, previously untapped reservoir, confirming the presence of 98 billion cubic feet (BCF) of additional natural gas volume.
Prime Energy is now on track to produce natural gas from the new well by the last quarter of 2026.
