Petrobras begins Lula-Mexilhao offshore gas pipeline operations
The consortium operating Block BM-S-11 offshore Brazil has opened the 10 million cu m/day Lula-Mexilhao natural gas pipeline. The consortium is comprised of operator Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) 65%, BG Group 25%, and Petrogal Brasil SA-Galp Energia 10%. The system connects the presalt Lula field to the Mexilhao platform in the Santos basin’s shallow waters.
The 18-in. OD Lula-Mexilhao pipeline, operating at 250 bar, extends 216 km, starting 2,145 m below sea level at the Cidade de Angra dos Reis floating production, storage, and offloading vessel, and ending at the Mexilhao platform, at a depth of 172 m. Petrobras describes Mexilhao as the largest fixed production unit in Brazil and the new pipeline as the deepest and longest undersea pipeline ever laid in Brazil.
The new pipeline will also transport natural gas from other fields developed as part of Phase 1 of Santos basin presalt operations, with connections to the FPSOs developing each, two in the Tupi field, one in Guara (OGJ Online, Dec. 10, 2010).
The Lula-Mexilhao pipeline connects to other Petrobras facilities, including the pipeline connecting the Mexilhao field to the Monteiro Lobato Gas Treatment Unit in Caraguatatuba, Sao Paulo, and the Caraguatatuba-Taubate pipeline, which transports processed gas to the domestic market distribution network.
Contact Christopher E. Smith at [email protected].
Christopher E. Smith | Editor in Chief
Christopher brings 27 years of experience in a variety of oil and gas industry analysis and reporting roles to his work as Editor-in-Chief, specializing for the last 15 of them in midstream and transportation sectors.