The six are understood to be Bluewater, Bumi Armada, BW Offshore, Fred Olsen Production, Swire Production and Teekay Petrojarl. Each company came forward when Eni issued an expression of interest in February.

Several other FPSO players, including Modec, Prosafe Production, Rubicon Offshore, Sea Production and Songa Floating Production were invited to take part, but it is not known which, if any, pursued Kitan.

Sources