Offshore staff
RIO DE JANEIRO – Petrobras has signed a letter of intent with SBM Offshore for the charter of a fourth FPSO for the ultra-deepwater Mero field in the presalt Libra area offshore Brazil.
SBM Offshore will design and construct the platform based on its Fast4Ward approach, which combines a newbuild multi-purpose floater (MPF) hull with standardized topsides modules.
This will be the company’s fifth MPF hull: the FPSO is due to be completed in 2024.
The Alexandre de Gusmão will have capacity to process 180,000 b/d of oil and 12 MMcm/d of gas, with 250,000 b/d of water injection and a minimum oil storage capacity of 1.4 MMbbl. It will be spread-moored in 1,900 m (6,233 ft) of water, 160 km (99.4 mi) offshore Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro State.
Petrobras’ development plan calls for eight oil producers, six water and gas injectors, and one convertible well (from producer to gas injector) to be connected to the FPSO via rigid subsea production and injection pipelines and flexible service lines.
Production should begin in 2025: the chartering and service contracts will run for 22.5 years from final acceptance of the platform.
Mero is Brazil’s third largest presalt field. The other partners are Shell Brasil Petróleo, TotalEnergies EP Brasil Ltda., CNODC Brasil Petróleo e Gás, CNOOC Petroleum Brasil, and Pré-Sal Petróleo, the manager of this contract.
The Mero 1 FPSO is on schedule to start operations in 2022, followed by Mero 2 in 2023 and Mero 3 in 2024. All will have a liquids processing capacity of 180,000 b/d.
08/03/2021
