SBM Offshore has been awarded contracts by Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras to design, build and operate two floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels for the Sergipe-Alagoas basin offshore northeastern Brazil, the Dutch company said on Friday.
The projects, known as SEAP-I and SEAP-II, will be developed under separate contracts. While consortia led by Petrobras will own the vessels, SBM Offshore will operate them under operations and maintenance agreements with an initial term of 6.5 years.
The awards strengthen SBM Offshore’s long-standing relationship with Petrobras, one of the world’s largest users of FPSOs for offshore oil production.
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Both vessels will be based on SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward standardized design program and will incorporate the company’s 11th and 12th new-build multi-purpose floater hulls.
The SEAP-II unit, designated P-87, is expected to begin operations in 2030. It will have the capacity to produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d), process 425 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and inject water at 120,000 b/d. The vessel will operate about 80 kilometers offshore in water depths of approximately 2,500 meters.
The SEAP-I unit, designated P-81, is scheduled for delivery in 2031. It will also be capable of producing oil at 120,000 b/d, while processing 355 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and injecting 200,000 barrels of water per day. The vessel will operate about 100 kilometers offshore in water depths of around 2,500 meters.
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SBM Offshore said both FPSOs will be connected to export pipelines that will transport associated gas directly to shore for commercial use. The configuration is intended to support domestic gas supply in Brazil while reducing the need for offshore gas flaring and reinjection.
The company said the projects represent a further step in integrating advanced gas treatment capabilities into FPSO developments, allowing gas resources to be monetized alongside oil production.
Chief Executive Officer Øivind Tangen said the award reflects Petrobras’ confidence in SBM Offshore and highlights the company’s expertise in handling complex gas-processing requirements.
“The export gas from the development will help boost the availability of gas for the region,” Tangen said in a statement.
