Equinor awards Brazil FPSO construction contract to MODEC

May 10, 2023
For the BM-C-33 project, Equinor has awarded a SURF contract to TechnipFMC and signed a sales and purchase agreement for the delivery of a FPSO unit to MODEC Inc.

Offshore staff

TOKYO, Japan — Equinor Brasil Energia has contracted MODEC to supply the FPSO for development of the Pao de Acucar, Seat and Gavea field cluster, all in the BM-C-33 Block in the presalt Campos Basin offshore Brazil.

MODEC said the new platform would be one of its most complex facilities, engineered to handle large volumes of gas for export and with a focus on reduced emissions.

The two-phase lump sum turnkey contract covers both the FEED (which MODEC had completed) and the EPCI process. In addition, the company will perform operation and maintenance of the FPSO during the first year of oil production, with Equinor then assuming control of operations.

The FPSO vessel will be stationed in 2,900 m water depth, 200 km from the coast of Rio de Janeiro, with SOFEC supplying the spread mooring system.

MODEC’s responsibilities cover the design and construction of the FPSO, including topsides processing equipment and hull marine systems. The topside will be designed to produce about 125,000 bbl/d of crude oil and to produce/export 565 MMcf/d of associated gas.

Minimum crude storage capacity will be 2 MMbbl.

MODEC will implement its newbuild, full double-hull design to accommodate larger topsides and larger storage capacity than conventional VLCC tankers, combined with a longer design service life.

The extensive topside space will allow for electrification with a combined cycle system for power generation.

SURF contract

Equinor also announced that it has, on behalf of the BM-C-33 license with partners Repsol Sinopec Brasil and Petrobras, awarded a contract for subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) to TechnipFMC.

Equinor has exercised an option with TechnipFMC following their FEED awarded in July 2022, to deliver integrated EPCI for SURF. The SURF system will be installed in water depth of about 2,900 m, which Equinor says is the deepest installation in its history.

The contract, described by the supplier as a major award, includes delivery of Subsea 2.0 tree systems, manifolds, jumpers, rigid risers and flowlines, umbilicals, pipeline end terminations, and subsea distribution and topside control equipment. TechnipFMC has also been awarded frame agreements for add-on equipment and subsea operational services.

05.10.2023