Brazilian FPSO ticks first oil milestone off its list before ringing in new year

January 1, 2025, by Melisa Cavcic

Brazilian energy player Brava Energia, former 3R Petroleum before the merger with Enauta, has brought a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel off the coast of Brazil online, starting production at an oil field in the Santos Basin.

Following the authorization of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP) for the start of operations of the FPSO Atlanta, the first oil was produced on December 31, 2024, through the Atlanta Definitive Production System.

“With this milestone, BRAVA becomes the first independent oil and gas company in the country to develop a deepwater production system from its initial phase, within the expected budget and the deadlines established for drilling the wells, installing the initial equipment and construction of the FPSO,” highlighted the operator.

Brava Energia has explained that the production at the FPSO Atlanta started through wells 6H and 7H, which are currently stabilizing. The firm continues with the connection campaign for the four remaining wells (2H, 3H, 4H, and 5H), expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025.

The FPSO Atlanta has the capacity to produce up to 50,000 barrels of oil per day, treat 140,000 barrels of water per day, and store up to 1.6 million barrels of oil. The unit has replaced the FPSO Petrojarl I, which worked at the Atlanta field in block BS-4 in the Santos Basin since 2018.

The FPSO Atlanta, bought for Atlanta’s Full Development System (FDS) in 2022, will initially be connected to six wells, working its way to ten in 2029. Chartered and operated by Malaysia’s Yinson Production, the unit is expected to remain in cooperation at the Brazilian field for 15 years, but Brava Energia can also extend its stay further thanks to a five-year optional period.

Yinson Production underlined: “We’re thrilled to announce that FPSO Atlanta has achieved first oil on 31 December 2024, marking the commencement of its 15-year firm charter! This milestone is a result of our team’s expertise, resilience, and commitment to delivering exceptional operational performance while prioritizing sustainability and safety.”

FPSO Atlanta's journey from development to first oil

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Brava Energia recently restarted production at the Papa-Terra oil field in the Campos basin off the coast of Brazil. The firm also completed the Shell-operated Parque das Conchas acquisition, thanks to an agreement with QatarEnergy.