Allseas preps for huge subsea pipeline job at Brazil’s supergiant ultra-deepwater oil field

Switzerland-headquartered offshore pipeline installation, heavy lift, and subsea construction contractor Allseas has put the wheels into motion to get ready for its new assignment on Brazil’s second largest oil field.

With its headquarters in Switzerland and central engineering and project management office in the Netherlands, Allseas has opened a new project management and engineering office in Rio de Janeiro, which will serve as the firm’s strategic hub throughout the latest project it won with Petrobras following a competitive tender.

Frans den Hartogh, Project Director, commented: “This award reaffirms our position as a leading player in one of the world’s most prolific deepwater regions and underscores our ability to execute complex, large-scale offshore projects.”

The Swiss player’s new contract with the Brazilian giant covers the design, procurement, construction, and installation of subsea infrastructure for the Búzios-10 pre-salt project some 180 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

The new assignment is said to mark Allseas’ return to the Brazilian offshore construction market, following campaigns installing export pipelines for Petrobras’ Rota 1, Rota 2, and Rota 3 pre-salt developments.

“Exciting times at Allseas as we kick off preparations for Búzios-10, one of the largest offshore pipeline installation projects in our 40-year history,” highlighted the Switzerland-headquartered player while disclosing its new job with the Brazilian energy giant.

Furthermore, Allseas claims to be in the final stages of awarding subcontracts for seamless linepipe manufacturing, internal cladding, and flexible joints for the steel catenary risers, as its offshore campaign on Búzios-10 is slated to begin in Q3 2026.

Andre Luis Jucá De Melo, Regional Director, emphasized: “We are excited about returning to Brazil after the successes of the past with high hopes for continuation of projects in the region in the future, by hiring and training local talent and investing in the Brazilian industry.”

This will see the firm’s Audacia pipelay vessel install 111 kilometers of rigid risers and flowlines in ultra-deep waters. The system, operating at depths beyond 2 kilometers, will link 16 wells to a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit via steel risers configured in a ‘lazy wave’ formation.

According to the company, critical components such as flex joints, pipeline end terminations, and jumpers will complete the connections. With a commitment to 40% local labor content, the project will generate 2,000 jobs and help strengthen Brazil’s offshore supply chain.

“The combination of ultra-deepwater complexities, diverse range of subsea equipment, and extensive engineering and fabrication scope make Búzios-10 one of the most significant contracts in Allseas’ history,” underscored the Swiss player.

This deal comes after Petrobras made an oil discovery in the western region of the Búzios field in the pre-salt Santos Basin. The Búzios shared reservoir consortium includes the Brazilian giant as the operator (88.98% stake), in partnership with CNOOC (7.34%) and CNPC (3.67%), with Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA) as the manager.

The company also recently put the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré into operation mode as part of the field’s sixth production system to help augment output to 1 million barrels of oil per day by the second half of 2025. Currently, five other FPSOs work on the field, including P-74, P-75, P-76, P-77, and Almirante Barroso.

The Búzios field, which came online in 2018, is perceived to be the world’s largest field in ultra-deep waters. Based on Petrobras’ expectations, Búzios will become the firm’s largest producing field, hitting 2 million barrels per day by 2030. 

The company’s five-year plan focuses on replenishing reserves, boosting production with a lower carbon footprint, and enlarging the supply of more sustainable and higher-quality products in its portfolio.