The companies are said to have reached an agreement around mid-July. However, Murphy could not be reached for comment at press time.

Upstream reported in May that the Kikeh FPSO is likely to be modified to handle up to another 70,000 barrels per day of crude from the Siakap North-Petai and Kakap fields.

The floater will be equipped with an additional riser and modules to boost its gas compression, water injection and crude separation systems, said sources.