Petrobras spills oil from P-58 FPSO. Blames broken hose

Brazilian oil company Petrobras has spilled oil in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil, after a hose rupture during an oil offloading from the P-58 FPSO.

“Petrobras reports the occurrence, in the early hours of today (23/02), of a hose rupture at P-58 during the offloading of oil to a relief vessel, causing an oil spill initially estimated by overflight at 188 m³. The offloading procedure was stopped immediately. The platform is in a safe condition. There are no victims or impact to the operation,” Petrobras said on Saturday.

P-58 is located in Parque das Baleias, in the Campos Basin, in the southern coast of Espirito Santo state, about 80 miles from the coast.

“Two vessels are on site to contain and collect the slick. Initial simulations indicate there is no risk that the slick will reach the coast. Overflights with experts are being carried out to evaluate the region. Petrobras has already reported the event to the relevant regulatory authorities. A committee is being formed to investigate the causes of the event,” Petrobras said.

P-58 FPSO can process 180,000 barrels of oil daily as well as six million cubic meters of natural gas. The floating production storage and offloading unit produced first oil in March 2014.

A Petrobras FPSO was involved in an oil spill in January, when oil spilled from a cargo tank of the FPSO Cidade do Rio De Janeiro on January 2. Around 4.9 cubic meters of oil spilled into the sea.