Total Oil Trading SA, the oil and gas trading arm of Total SA, Paris, published an assay dated July 1, 2019, for Mero crude oil, produced from the Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras)-operated Pioneiro de Libra floating production, storage, and offloading unit (FPSO) in ultradeep waters 180 km offshore Rio de Janeiro in the northwestern portion of the Libra block of Brazil’s presalt Santos basin.
With a production capacity of 50,000 b/d of oil and compression capacity of 4 million cu m/day of gas, the Pioneiro de Libra FPSO began producing from Mero (formerly Libra, renamed 2017) field in November 2017 before concluding an extended well test in October 2018 (OGJ Online, Oct. 5, 2018).
In October 2018, Petrobras let a contract to Aker Solutions to supply 12 vertical subsea trees, four subsea distribution units, and three topside master control stations for the Mero 1 Guanabara FPSO, which will be used for the field’s first full-development phase following current production from the Pioneiro de Libra FPSO. The Guanabara is to come on stream in 2021 with capacity to process 180,000 b/d of oil and 12 million cu m/day of natural gas. It’s the first of four production systems of equivalent capacity planned for the field.
In February 2019, Petrobras let a contract to TechnipFMC to deliver engineering, procurement, construction, and installation for Mero 1 pre-salt field development. The contract covers engineering, procurement, construction of all rigid lines, as well as installation and precommissioning of all infield riser and flowline systems for interconnecting 13 wells (six production, seven water alternating gas) to the Mero 1 Guanabara FPSO. TechnipFMC said it also will install rigid pipelines (including corrosion resistant alloy and steel lazy wave risers), flexible risers and flowlines, steel-tube umbilicals, and other required subsea equipment as part of the project.
In June 2019, Petrobras signed a letter of intent with SBM Offshore for 22.5-year lease and operation of the Mero 2 FPSO, named Sepetiba, which will handle production of 180,000 b/d of oil and injection of 250,000 b/d of water. To be built by Modec Inc., the vessel will have associated-gas treatment capacity of 12 million cu m/day and minimum storage capacity of 1.4 million bbl of oil. Delivery of the Sepetiba FPSO is scheduled in 2022.
Discovered in May 2010, the Mero block has water depths of 1,700-2,400 m and wells as deep as 6,000 m and is estimated to contain 8-12 billion boe of reserves below a 2-km salt layer (OGJ Online, July 31, 2019).
Alongside Petrobras—which operates Mero and holds 40% interest—other partners in the original Libra consortium include Total SA 20%, Royal Dutch Shell PLC 20%, CNOOC Ltd. 10%, and China National Petroleum Corp. 10%.
Whole crude
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 882.2
Gravity, °API: 28.8
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.28
Sulfur, wt %: 0.32
Hydrogen sulfide, mg/kg: 2
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 50
Viscosity at 10° C., cst: 55.9
Viscosity at 50° C., cst: 11.5
Pour point, °C.: -18
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.25
Nickel, mg/kg: 4.5
Vanadium, mg/kg: 6.0
Iron, mg/kg: 3.3
Propane, wt %: 0.1
Propane, vol %: 0.1
iso-Butane, vol %: 0.1
n-Butane, wt %: 0.1
n-Butane, vol %: 0.2
Light naphtha, 15-65° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 1.6
Yield on crude, vol %: 2.2
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 652
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 6
Research octane no., clear: 69.8
Motor octane no., clear: 68.4
Naphthenes, vol %: 8.8
Aromatics, vol %: 0.8
Light naphtha, 15-80° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 2.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 3.3
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 668
Sulfur, wt %: 0.01
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 14
Research octane no., clear: 66.4
Motor octane no., clear: 64.9
Naphthenes, vol %: 16.0
Aromatics, vol %: 2.5
Heavy naphtha, 80-150° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 8.4
Yield on crude, vol %: 10.0
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 746
Sulfur, wt %: 0.02
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 50
Naphthenes, vol %: 41.3
Aromatics, vol %: 7.3
Heavy naphtha, 80-175° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 11.7
Yield on crude, vol %: 13.6
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 755
Sulfur, wt %: 0.03
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 51
Naphthenes, vol %: 41.4
Aromatics, vol %: 8.4
Heavy naphtha, 100-150° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 6.7
Yield on crude, vol %: 7.9
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 752
Sulfur, wt %: 0.02
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 52
Naphthenes, vol %: 42.2
Aromatics, vol %: 7.4
Kerosine, 150-230° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 10.8
Yield on crude, vol %: 11.9
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 800
Sulfur, wt %: 0.06
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 46
Smoke point, mm: 25
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.11
Cetane index 1990 (D-4737): 41.0
Freeze point, °C.: -58
Aromatics, vol %: 15.6
Viscosity at 50° C., cst: 1.1
Flash point, °C.: 56.5
Kerosine, 175-230° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 7.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 8.2
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 808
Sulfur, wt %: 0.07
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 43
Smoke point, mm: 24
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.12
Cetane index 1990 (D-4737): 41.9
Freeze point, °C.: -53
Aromatics, vol %: 17.5
Viscosity at 50° C., cst: 1.2
Flash point, °C.: 69.6
Kerosine, 150-250° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 13.8
Yield on crude, vol %: 15.1
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 806
Sulfur, wt %: 0.07
Mercaptan sulfur, mg/kg: 43
Smoke point, mm: 24
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.12
Cetane index 1990 (D-4737): 42.6
Freeze point, °C.: -53
Aromatics, vol %: 16.8
Viscosity at 50° C., cst: 1.2
Flash point, °C.: 59.7
Gas oil, 175-400° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 35.0
Yield on crude, vol %: 36.1
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 853
Sulfur, wt %: 0.18
Aniline point, °C.: 67
Cetane index 1990 (D-4737): 48.9
Cloud point, °C.: -4
Cold filter plugging point, °C.: -8
Pour point, °C.: -12
Viscosity at 50° C., cst: 3.0
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 1.4
UOP K factor: 11.8
Flash point, °C.: 83.5
Gas oil, 230-400° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 27.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 28.0
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 866
Sulfur, wt %: 0.20
Aniline point, °C.: 70
Cetane index 1990 (D-4737): 51.3
Cloud point, °C.: -1
Cold filter plugging point, °C.: -2
Pour point, °C.: -3
Viscosity at 50° C., cst: 4.2
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 1.8
UOP K factor: 11.8
Flash point, °C.: 107.1
Gas oil, 230-375° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 23.4
Yield on crude, vol %: 23.9
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 860
Sulfur, wt %: 0.19
Aniline point, °C.: 69
Cetane index 1990 (D-4737): 51.4
Cloud point, °C.: -6
Cold filter plugging point, °C.: -8
Pour point, °C.: -9
Viscosity at 50° C., cst: 3.5
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 1.6
UOP K factor: 11.8
Flash point, °C.: 105.2
Vacuum distillate, 375-550° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 27.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 26.2
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 927
Sulfur, wt %: 0.37
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 0.3
Aniline point, °C.: 84
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.25
Basic nitrogen, mg/kg: 828
Pour point, °C.: 40
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 11.3
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 3.9
UOP K factor: 11.8
Vacuum distillate, 375-565° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 29.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 28.1
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 928
Sulfur, wt %: 0.38
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 0.4
Aniline point, °C.: 85
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.26
Basic nitrogen, mg/kg: 917
Pour point, °C.: 41
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 12.3
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 4.2
UOP K factor: 11.8
Vacuum distillate, 375-580° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 31.5
Yield on crude, vol %: 29.9
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 930
Sulfur, wt %: 0.38
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 0.5
Aniline point, °C.: 85
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.27
Basic nitrogen, mg/kg: 1,000
Pour point, °C.: 42
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 13.3
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 4.5
UOP K factor: 11.9
Vacuum distillate, 400-580° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 27.4
Yield on crude, vol %: 25.9
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 934
Sulfur, wt %: 0.39
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 0.6
Aniline point, °C.: 86
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.29
Basic nitrogen, mg/kg: 1,120
Pour point, °C.: 45
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 16.4
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 5.2
UOP K factor: 11.9
Residue, > 375° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 54.7
Yield on crude, vol %: 50.6
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 954
Sulfur, wt %: 0.49
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 5.6
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.2
Nickel, mg/kg: 8.0
Vanadium, mg/kg: 11.0
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.44
Pour point, °C.: 20
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 60
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 13
Residue, > 550° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 27.2
Yield on crude, vol %: 24.4
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 984
Sulfur, wt %: 0.62
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 10.9
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.2
Nickel, mg/kg: 17.0
Vanadium, mg/kg: 22.0
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.63
Pour point, °C.: 50
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 892
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 83
Penetration, mm/10: 171
Residue, > 565° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 25.2
Yield on crude, vol %: 22.5
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 987
Sulfur, wt %: 0.63
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 11.6
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.2
Nickel, mg/kg: 18.0
Vanadium, mg/kg: 24.0
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.65
Pour point, °C.: 52
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 1,230
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 103
Penetration, mm/10: 136
Residue, > 580° C.
Yield on crude, wt %: 23.2
Yield on crude, vol %: 20.7
Density at 15° C., kg/cu m.: 990
Sulfur, wt %: 0.64
Conradson carbon residue, wt %: 12.4
Acidity, mg KOH/g: 0.2
Nickel, mg/kg: 19.0
Vanadium, mg/kg: 26.0
Total nitrogen, wt %: 0.67
Pour point, °C.: 54
Viscosity at 100° C., cst: 1,740
Viscosity at 150° C., cst: 130
Penetration, mm/10: 111
Mero assay from Total Oil Trading SA’s website.
