Petrobras to install 11 new FPSOs for Brazil presalt production

Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) expects to install eleven new FPSOs in the presalt offshore Brazil by 2027 with a plan to produce 2.4 MMboe.

Of the new FPSOs, six will be allocated to Santos basin Búzios oil field: Almirante Tamandaré (2024), P-78 and P-79 (2025); P-80 and P-82 (2026), and P-83 (2027). Currently, Búzios is operated with five FPSOs (P-74, P-75, P-76, P-77, and Almirante Barroso).

In second-half 2023, Petrobrás expects to deploy the Sepetiba FPSO, the second platform in Mero field, with production capacity of up to 180,000 b/d. By 2025, the operator plans to add two new units for a total of four production systems.

Jubarte field is scheduled to receive the Maria Quitéria FPSO in 2025, with a production capacity of up to 100,000 b/d. As part of the Albacora field revitalization project, a 120,000 b/d-capacity FPSO is scheduled to arrive in 2027 to operate in both the postsalt and presalt.

Since December 2022, Petrobras has put into production two new presalt systems, P-71 in Itapu field and the Almirante Barroso FPSO in Búzios field (OGJ Online, Dec. 22, 2022; June 2, 2023). A third unit (Sepetiba FPSO in Santos basin Mero field) is expected to begin operations by end-2023.

The installations are part of Petrobras’ 2023-2027 strategic plan which earmarks $64 billion for exploration and production. Roughly 67% of the investment will be allocated to the presalt.

With the new installations, coupled with units already in operation, Petrobras expects to produce 3.1 MMboe/d in 2027, with 2.4 MMboe/d coming from the presalt.

Partners in Petrobras’ presalt layer development include Shell PLC, TotalEnergies SE, Petrogal, Repsol Sinopec, China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corp. (CNODC), Carigali Sdn. Bhd., QatarEnergy, and Presal Petroleo SA (PPSA).