Brazil’s Petrobras has started production on its newest vessel – the P-71 at the Itapu field, located in the Santos Basin pre-salt area.
Petrobras said that the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, docked 200 kilometres off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, began production ahead of its 2023 schedule.
“We will also be able to anticipate the ramp-up (production evolution), which is excellent news not only for Petrobras but also for the country, which will receive the royalties from this production earlier,” says Petrobras’ Chief Production Development Officer, João Henrique Rittershaussen.
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The P-71 FPSO can process up to 150,000 barrels of oil and 6 million cubic meters (m3 ) of gas per day. It measures 316 metres (m) by 54 m and can store 1.6 million barrels. The FPSO can accommodate 166 people.
Positioned in a water depth of 2,010 meters, the P-71 will be the only one to produce in the Itapu field, fully operated by Petrobras under the Transfer of Rights and Production Sharing regimes. The company expects the unit to reach its maximum production capacity in 2023.
The P-71 is the sixth and last of the series of replicant platforms operated by Petrobras.
These units are characterised by a standardised engineering design, high production capacity, and advanced technologies for operation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. One of the unit’s low-carbon technologies is the so-called flare gas recovery unit (FGRU) system, which contributes to greater utilisation of the produced gas and reduction of emissions.
Petrobras has plans to add 18 more FPSOs over the next five years.
In 2023, six vessels are expected, with combined capacity of 630,000 bpd. In 2024, three vessels are expected, with combined capacity of 505,000 bpd. In 2025, three vessels are expected, with combined capacity of 540,000 bpd. In 2026, two vessels are expected, with combined capacity of 450,000 bpd. In 2027, five vessels are expected, with combined capacity of 711,000 bpd.
Most of them are earmarked for pre-salt fields. The plan makes few adjustments to the company’s previous FPSO vision for the 2023-2026 period.
