Ocean Installer lands major subsea contract on Equinor's Bacalhau field

(WO) — Ocean Installer has secured a multi-year contract from Equinor for subsea installation work on the Bacalhau development offshore Brazil, marking the company's entry into the country's rapidly growing subsea market.

The award covers well tie-in activities on the Bacalhau field in the Santos basin, including installation of rigid well jumpers between flowlines and subsea trees, flying leads installation and associated pre-commissioning work.

The contract spans approximately 4.5 years, with the first offshore campaign scheduled for 2027. Ocean Installer said the agreement also includes options for contract extensions and additional rigid jumper fabrication work.

Bacalhau is located in approximately 2,100 m of water in Brazil's pre-salt Santos Basin and is Equinor's largest international offshore development. The field is also the first pre-salt asset in Brazil to be fully developed by an international operator.

“This award represents a step change for Moreld,” said Geir Austigard, CEO of Moreld, Ocean Installer's parent company. “This is Ocean Installer's first award in Brazil. The scope involves production-critical work on a major international asset operated by Equinor, reflecting Ocean Installer's ability to deliver safely, reliably and consistently over time.”

As new wells are completed, they will be sequentially tied back and brought online, requiring ongoing subsea installation support throughout the project period.

Ocean Installer recently established a Brazilian subsidiary and hired its first local employees, moves the company said will support development of a long-term presence in Brazil's offshore sector.

“The long project duration provides a stable foundation to build our local organization in Brazil,” said Ocean Installer CEO Kevin Murphy. “Brazil is an attractive market with a significant pipeline of subsea projects to be executed, and we see strong alignment between upcoming opportunities and Ocean Installer's core competencies.”

The company described the Bacalhau award as a strategic milestone that supports its long-term growth plans in South America and strengthens its position in the global subsea installation market.