Brazilian firm awaits go-ahead for first oil as recently converted FPSO gets cleared for work

Brazilian energy player Brava Energia, former 3R Petroleum before the merger with Enauta, has obtained the required approval to deploy a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel for operations off the coast of Brazil and is now waiting for a green light to start production at an oil field in the Santos Basin, where this FPSO will be in operation.

The Brazilian firm’s activities aimed at replacing the FPSO Petrojarl I, which has been working at the Atlanta field in block BS-4 in the Santos Basin since 2018, with the FPSO Atlanta, bought for Atlanta’s Full Development System (FDS) in 2022, are in the final stage.

The naming ceremony for the vessel was held at the Dubai Drydocks World shipyard on December 13, 2023. The FPSO reached Brazil in May 2024, enabling the start-up of activities to connect it to the wells at the field. With 19 out of 20 anchor installations completed, activities to connect the first two wells to the FPSO Atlanta were expected in June 2024.

Previously, all operations were to be completed to enable the first oil from the FPSO Atlanta in August 2024, initially with six wells online, reaching ten wells in 2029. However, the operator of the Atlanta field said in July 2024 that the production start-up could be affected by the announced strike of regulatory agencies’ employees.

On August 22, the second well was disconnected from the FPSO Petrojarl I for connection to the FPSO Atlanta. The installation of the second multiphase pumping module and the connection of the other wells to increase production were also implemented according to plan.

The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) has now issued the operating license for the FPSO Atlanta to Brava Energia, which takes the firm another step closer to the first oil.

Currently, the company is working to comply with regulatory requirements necessary for the pending authorization from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) for the first oil production through the new vessel.

According to the Brazilian player, the installation campaign of the second multiphase pumping module and the connection of the other four wells planned for Phase I of the field development are ongoing in line with the schedule.

This FPSO can store 1.6 million barrels of oil (boe) and process 50,000 boe and 140,000 barrels of water per day. Chartered and operated by Malaysia’s Yinson Production, the vessel will stay on the Brazilian field for 15 years, plus a five-year optional period.

After Brava Energia stopped production at another oil field in the Campos basin off the coast of Brazil, the resumption date has not been disclosed.