Two contractors are competing in a tender to supply a mobile offshore production unit (MOPU) for the Indian state-owned company Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at the Mumbai High field, located off the west coast of India.

Modernization of the Mumbai High Field

ONGC is carrying out a phased modernization of the Mumbai High field. In January last year, the company brought in British BP as a technical consultant to help restore oil and gas production at the site.

MOPU Supply Tender

Recently, two companies submitted technical and commercial bids for the supply of the MOPU. The participants include Indian firms Shapoorji Pallonji Energy and HAL Offshore. The bids were submitted in June and are currently under evaluation by ONGC. Previously, other Indian and international companies had shown interest in the project, but according to available information, they did not submit applications.

At the beginning of this year, ONGC began searching for a specialized MOPU. The company plans to lease the MOPU for a period of seven to ten years, with the facility expected to be operational in the second half of 2026.

Requirements for the Unit

The Mumbai High project requires a large MOPU capable of processing between 4 and 6 million cubic meters of gas per day. The unit will be connected by a bridge to the existing process platform. The MOPU is expected to house facilities for reservoir fluid processing, separation, gas export to the condensate system, gas treatment, dehydration, compression, chemical injection, and other related infrastructure.

The contractor that wins the tender will be responsible for modifying the topside, connecting and commissioning the MOPU, as well as for its ongoing operation and technical maintenance.

Expected Results

ONGC and BP anticipate significant production growth at the Mumbai High field. After BP’s involvement, oil production reached 102% and gas production 108% of the target level. The decision to engage BP as a technical consultant for all assets on the west coast was made following the successful results at Mumbai High.

According to an ONGC stock exchange announcement published last year, BP estimates the potential to increase oil and gas production at Mumbai High by up to 60% from the baseline over the 10-year contract period. ONGC expects to generate up to $15 billion in revenue from Mumbai High during this period through additional production.

Strategic Importance of Western Fields

ONGC’s western fields, including Mumbai High, Bassein & Satellite, and Neelam Heera, are strategically important for maintaining and increasing domestic oil production. The operator aims to maximize output from aging fields, in line with India’s goal to boost domestic oil and gas production and enhance energy security.

In 2022, ONGC announced plans to implement 18 offshore EPCI projects worth billions of dollars, including the modernization of existing facilities and the construction of new ones. Other major ONGC projects on the west coast include the Ratna, R-Series, and North Tapti fields, PRP-8, Cluster 9 development, the B-193 project (phase two), platform modernization projects, and the development of MB0SN-2005/1.