Offshore staff
HOUSTON — Brazil has all the ingredients in place to lead the world in terms of low-emission/high-profit oil and gas production, according to Carlos Travassos, chief engineering, technology and innovation officer at Petrobras.
He spoke at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) yesterday on the panel “Brazilian Energy Outlook: Strengthening the Offshore Activities.”
Travassos cited the company’s current revitalization project for the Marlim fields in the Campos Basin. “This is a great example of double resilience: lower emissions and lower costs.
“By replacing the nine platforms currently operating in the Marlim fields [with] two new FPSOs, we will reduce 60% of the carbon emissions and increase production in these fields by 20%.”
The Anna Nery FPSO, the first for the project, should start offshore operations in the next few days (the platform is designed for 25 years’ service), while the second, Anita Garibaldi, is mooring at the location and should begin operating shortly.
Travassos highlighted various technologies the company is working on to make its E&P activities more efficient. Some of the solutions should deliver a 15% reduction in emissions from well construction processes, 18% in subsea systems processes and 30% in new FPSOs.
He also noted that Brazil has favorable conditions for the development of offshore wind energy. The country’s estimated generation potential 700 GW in offshore locations with water depths of up to 50 m—more than 30 times the global generation capacity installed today, according to data from the Energy Research Company (EPE), connected to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
“We tick all the boxes, and we need to advance in technology, regulation and in the cost and infrastructure challenges,” he said.
He also acknowledged the growing calls for low-carbon energy combined with energy security, stating, “Therefore, the sustainable transition must happen in a way that is compatible with society’s most legitimate needs.”
For more information, visit Petrobras at OTC booth 915.
05.02.2023
