Trinidad Offshore Fabricators Company Limited (TOFCO) successfully executed the “float-off” of the Manatee Jacket on October 1st, which it said signals a major leap forward in one of T&T’s most ambitious offshore gas projects.

In offshore oil and gas construction, a float-off refers to the process of moving a large fabricated structure (like a jacket or platform) from land or a fabrication yard onto the water, typically using a barge.

The Manatee Jacket is the largest ever fabricated at TOFCO, for the Manatee Gas Field, which is located in the prolific East Coast Marine Area.

According to Shell, the Manatee project will allow the company to strengthen its Integrated Gas portfolio and maximise LNG potential.

This East Coast Marine Area already hosts Shell’s biggest gas-producing fields, namely Dolphin, Starfish, Bounty, and Endeavour.

Once operational in 2027, Manatee is projected to deliver peak production of 104,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, including 604 million standard cubic feet per day of gas.

The Manatee project achieved a final investment decision (FID) in July 2024.