ROG.e 2024: Oceaneering aims to shape the future of Brazilian offshore operations

Sept. 23, 2024

Investing in technology development, people and infrastructure is crucial for Brazil’s offshore energy industry.

A shore-based ROV pilot in Macaé monitors hull cleaning inspections undertaken by the ROV based on the CBO Manoella vessel.

By Simao Silva, Oceaneering

Brazil is a critical region for the offshore energy industry. Oceaneering established operations in the country in the early 1970s, and since then the company has provided subsea robotics, asset management and offshore project execution worldwide. While it is headquartered in Houston, Brazil plays a pivotal role in the company's international portfolio. The company's continued investment and focus in Brazil aligns with its long-term strategy to drive efficiency, enhance safety and meet the country’s growing offshore energy demands.

Establishing Macaé as a remote operations hub

Oceaneering’s 19,000-sq-m Macaé facility is a hub for the company’s ROV, survey, subsea service, rental and tooling services.

Oceaneering pioneered remote piloting of an ROV system from shore in Stavanger, Norway, in 2004. Recently, the company reached a significant milestone in Brazil. Collaborating with Petrobras, Oceaneering successfully piloted a heavy work-class Millennium Plus ROV from its Onshore Remote Operations Center in Macaé. This remote operation, utilizing a secure low-latency LTE connection, covered tasks such as inspections and hull cleaning at water depths ranging from 5 m to 1,100 m. This achievement highlights how remote operations can improve safety and reduce offshore carbon emissions by limiting personnel exposure.

Securing FPSO maintenance contracts

Oceaneering's Integrity Management and Digital Solutions segment was recently awarded a two-year contract to design the maintenance strategy for an FPSO vessel set to operate offshore Brazil. The company is drawing on its global experience and lessons learned from similar projects worldwide to optimize this maintenance strategy.

Brazil: A key player in offshore operations

Niteroi is an important hub for Oceaneering, serving as one of its three dedicated umbilical manufacturing facilities for the offshore energy industry.

Brazil has been a strategic focus for Oceaneering for the last five decades. Today, the company's team of more than 1,400 professionals works across multiple facilities, offering services that include ROV operations, subsea intervention and umbilical manufacturing at its Niterói facility. Macaé remains a critical hub for regional operations, hosting its ROV and subsea services business and featuring a 19,000-sq-m base equipped with training facilities, an ROV simulator and the only oil spill response kit in Latin America.

As one of its three global training hubs, Macaé Training Center (established in 2009) supports career development and technical training in ROV operations, robotics and subsea technologies. Additionally, the company's research and development team in Rio de Janeiro, comprising about 100 engineers, aims to advance new offshore technologies tailored to Brazil's deepwater environments.

Oceaneering also recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

Oceaneering is exhibiting at booth D15 at ROG.e 2024 this week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

About the Author

Simao Silva

Simao Silva is Brazil country manager for Oceaneering International Inc. He has spent more than 20 years in the subsea sector of the offshore energy industry in a variety of leadership roles, starting in the technical field with subsea robotics, projects and operations management for interventions, and then business management and development.

Since joining Oceaneering in 2005, Simao has lived in several countries, including Brazil, Scotland, Azerbaijan and the US.

Simao studied engineering at the University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and holds a business administration degree from Aspen University. In addition, he is a certified project management professional, and he holds certificates for Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies from Harvard University, and Climate Change from the University of Edinburgh.