FPSO Cidade de Saquarema has departed the BRASA shipyard quayside and is heading offshore Brazil, following a record turnaround time for its module integration. Taking just over four months (from first lift to quayside departure), the experience gained on standardization and repeatability of the proven formula on twin vessel Cidade de Maricá – which achieved first oil in February – is now paying dividends with a gain in schedule.

Having arrived mid-December 2015 at the BRASA shipyard, Cidade de Saquarema, is bound for the Lula field to commence its 20-year lease and operate contract. Following the successful EPC phase, the project team now hands over to SBM Offshore’s Installation and Operations teams. Following first oil for Cidade de Saquarema, SBM Offshore’s operated Brazilian fleet will total seven FPSOs, with a total capacity of 870,000 BOPD.

“Fast-tracked, this latest milestone represents a huge achievement for SBM Offshore in-country. Operating in Brazil since 1997, the market is very important to us and we are totally committed. Currently, units designed and/or owned by SBM Offshore are responsible for approximatively 20% of the country’s national oil production. The Group and its partner have invested in the development of BRASA to build and integrate FPSO modules and in the training of the national workforce at the yard, in the Rio office and onshore bases. We are very well-positioned to meet future demand and accommodate local content requirements. After the successful start-up of production SBM Offshore’s Operations look forward to operating Saquarema over the coming 20 years,” says Oliver Kassam, SBM Offshore Managing Director in Brazil.

FPSO Cidade de Maricá and FPSO Cidade de Saquarema

The FPSOs were converted in parallel and both are for operations in the Lula field in the pre-salt province offshore Brazil. BM-S-11 block is under concession to a consortium comprised of PETROBRAS (65%), BG E&P Brasil Ltda. (25%) and Petrogal Brasil S.A. (10%). SBM Offshore’s contract with BM-S-11 subsidiary Tupi BV is for the 20-year charter and operation of the two FPSOs.

The FPSOs are owned and operated by a joint venture owned by affiliated companies of SBM Offshore (56%), Mitsubishi Corporation (20%), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (19%), and Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás S.A. (5%).

Both vessels’ throughput capacity is 150,000 bpd of oil per day. The twin FPSOs benefitted from the technological expertise that SBM Offshore acquired during the design, conversion and operational experience of the Company’s first two pre-salt FPSOs the Cidade de Ilhabela and Cidade de Paraty, both operating offshore Brazil.

The FPSO projects have generated significant economic impacts, direct and indirect, to Rio de Janeiro State, Niteroi in particular. To date BRASA shipyard has successfully delivered modules for three FPSOs and generated substantial economic gain and opportunities for the country, with high-skilled direct and indirect positions in excess of 30,000 jobs.

BRASA shipyard

Developed in 50:50 partnership between SBM Offshore and Synergy Energy, the fabrication shipyard Estaleiro Brasa has been operating since 2012 when construction for FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela’s modules commenced. The yard was set up in Niteroi, just across the bay from downtown Rio, dedicated to SBM Offshore’s own needs, while also serving the needs of the Brazilian oil and gas industry at large.

BRASA is a state-of-the-art fabrication shipyard with highly qualified Brazilian nationals employed and represents a major part of SBM Offshore’s sustainable development strategy in Brazil. The yard’s capacity and trained workers are the result of a major investment over the past five years by SBM Offshore and its partner.