Woodside Energy has achieved a significant milestone in its Trion Development project offshore Mexico with the commencement of steel fabrication for the semi-submersible floating production unit (FPU).
The first steel-cutting ceremony took place on November 13, 2024, at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) facility in Ulsan, South Korea.
The event marks the beginning of a multi-year construction campaign for the Trion FPU, which is critical to the development’s progress towards its targeted first oil production in 2028.
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill, who attended the ceremony, highlighted the importance of this phase, stating: “This is an exciting moment for all those involved with the Trion Development.”
The Trion Development, currently more than 15 per cent complete, is a joint venture between Woodside Energy and PEMEX.
It represents a groundbreaking project as the first oil production from Mexico’s deepwater resources.
The field is located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 180 kilometres off the Mexican coastline, at a water depth of 2,500 metres.
Woodside awarded the FPU engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to HHI in June 2023.
The steel-cutting ceremony was attended by notable figures, including HHI President & CEO Lee Sang-kyun and Mexico’s Ambassador to Korea, Carlos Penafiel Soto, underscoring the international collaboration involved in this project.
The Trion Development is poised to play a crucial role in Mexico’s energy sector. As a greenfield development, it will pioneer deepwater oil production in Mexican waters.
The project’s success could pave the way for future deepwater explorations and developments in the region.
As the Trion Development progresses, it continues to meet important milestones, bringing Woodside Energy closer to its goal of commencing oil production by 2028.
The start of steel fabrication for the FPU represents a tangible step forward in this ambitious offshore project.
