Photo: Brasa shipyard, Niteroi, Brazil. Aerial view of yard and modules being constructed for FPSOs Cidade de Marica and Cidade de Saquarema. April 2015

Just returned from an onboard visit to FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela, SBM Offshore Chief Operating Officer Philippe Barril commented: “We are happy with the progress to date on Maricá and we look forward to the delivery of the FPSO to our client once the BRASA scope is completed. We expect her to follow in the footsteps of her mother ship FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela, which has been successfully producing offshore Brazil for eight months and is an example of the world-class standards to which SBM aspires. All our teams are working hard to achieve our delivery target for Maricá, the third pre-salt FPSO in the series of four that SBM is providing to Petrobras.”

Project Director John Perkins says “The arrival of FPSO Cidade de Maricá to BRASA represents a newsworthy milestone for SBM Offshore and a further step on the road to delivery. It demonstrates SBM’s effective global project management for her conversion, which is being jointly conducted from our Regional Centres in Holland, Monaco and Brazil. As a joint venture partner with Synergy in BRASA shipyard, SBM is very proud to welcome her to the quayside for the final integration of her modules.”  

Conversion work on the hull and some module integration was completed in China before she set sail in April 2015 for Brazil. Cidade de Maricá is the second FPSO to moor and be integrated at BRASA shipyard since it opened in 2012.

Project Manager Martijn Kleijn says “Integration of the hull and topsides will take place at BRASA where some of the modules have also been fabricated. The yard is ready to begin the module lifting phase using the yard’s Pelicano-1 barge crane. Additional modules were constructed and delivered by EBSE, a Rio yard that SBM works closely with as part of its development of local content solutions.”

FPSO Cidade de Maricá and FPSO Cidade de Saquarema

The FPSO Cidade de Maricá is destined for 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%). Her sister ship – FPSO Cidade de Saquarema which is currently in the CXG yard in China from where Maricá sailed - is also destined for the same field and is being converted in parallel. Planned delivery for FPSOs Cidade de Maricá and Cidade de Saquarema is expected respectively by end 2015 and early 2016. SBM Offshore’s contract with BM-S-11 subsidiary Tupi BV is for the twenty-year charter and operation of the two FPSOs.

The FPSOs are owned and will be operated by a Joint Venture owned by affiliated companies of SBM Offshore, Mitsubishi Corporation, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, and Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás S.A. in which SBM Offshore shareholding is 56%.

The twin FPSOs will benefit from the technological expertise that SBM Offshore acquired during the successful conversion and operational experience of FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela and FPSO Cidade de Paraty.

SBM Offshore’s four FPSOs in four years for offshore pre-salt Brazil:

2013 Cidade de Paraty

2014 Cidade de Ilhabela

2015 Cidade de Maricá

2016 Cidade de Saquarema

BRASA – background

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 now a successful, state-of-the-art fabrication shipyard with highly qualified Brazilian nationals employed and represents a success story in 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 four years by SBM and its partner Synergy.

BRASA Business Acquisition Manager Rodrigo Gomes says “The BRASA team’s valiant effort this last year has paid off, ensuring all modules destined for the FPSO were completed in time for her arrival at the yard’s recently dredged quayside. Our main focus now is to begin integration and commissioning. BRASA welcomes the second FPSO moored quayside since the yard opened. We are also on track to finalize the modules for FPSO Cidade de Saquarema, which will arrive later this year, proving our capabilities for tackling large complex FPSO projects safety and to the highest standards with our dedicated and disciplined team.”