SBM Offshore informed that Premier Oil plc (Premier) has awarded the Company the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract for an FPSO for Phase 1 of its Sea Lion development in the North Falkland Basin.

The 18-month contract awarded to SBM Offshore covers the FEED elements of the proposed FPSO.  The asset will be a converted FPSO with a throughput capacity of approximately 85,000 barrels per day and will operate in 450 meters of water.

The proposed Phase 1 Sea Lion project, operated by Premier with Rockhopper Exploration plc as the JV partner, is located 220 kilometers north of the Falkland Islands.  This first phase is subject to final investment decision targeted for the end of the FEED in the second half of 2017.  Subsequent phases to developing Sea Lion and the wider North Falkland Basin reserves, utilizing FPSOs, are envisaged.