New FPSO comes on stream off Brazil

A new floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for Petrobras’ revitalisation project in Campos Basin offshore Brazil has started production.

Back in October 2019, letters of intent were awarded to Malaysia’s Yinson for the FPSO Anna Nery by Petrobras. Several months later, the two players entered into definitive contracts and in April 2020, Sumitomo opted to participate in the project with a 25 per cent stake.

In June 2022, the FPSO’s naming ceremony was held. The following month, the vessel left the Cosco Qidong shipyard in China and embarked on its journey to Brazil. The FPSO Anna Nery arrived in Brazil back in September 2022.

In an update on Monday, 8 May 2023, Petrobras revealed that the FPSO Anna Nery started production on 7 May 2023. This is the first of two FPSOs that are part of the Marlim and Voador revitalisation project, which is expected to expand the current production of around 30,000 bpd of oil and around 420,000 m³ of gas to more than 150,000 boepd.

Jean Paul Prates, CEO of Petrobras, commented: “This is the largest project in the world in the recovery of mature assets in the offshore industry. Through it, we will increase production, maintain jobs, and open an important learning and knowledge front for other similar projects throughout Brazil.”

The FPSO Anna Nery is anchored in a water depth of 927 metres and interconnected to 32 wells, with peak production scheduled for 2025. The vessel is capable of producing up to 70,000 barrels of oil per day and processing 4 million m³ of gas, It is expected to work on the field for 25 years.

Furthermore, the Marlim and Voador revitalisation project is expected to contribute to the recovery of the Campos Basin production – currently at about 560,000 boed – with the projection for the basin’s production being 900,000 boed for 2027. The two new FPSOs will replace the previous nine platforms: P-18, P-19, P-20, P-26, P-32, P-33, P-35, P-37 and P-47.

Moreover, the second production unit, which is scheduled to work on this project, is the FPSO Anita Garibaldi. In a bid to extend the production from the field’s deposits until 2048, these two FPSOs are planned to be connected to 75 wells.

“The deployment of these two new production systems, appropriate to the mature field exploration format, provides operational continuity to the Marlim and Voador fields,” underlined Petrobras.