SBM ADVANCES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FPSOS FOR BRAZIL, BUT FEELS IMPACTS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

With an important portfolio of projects for the Brazilian market, SBM Offshore is advancing in the construction of three FPSOs for the country. Despite facing logistical challenges caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the Dutch company achieved two important milestones in the works of the platform ships Almirante Tamandaré (Buzios 6) and Alexandre de Gusmão (Mero 4). However, the company revealed that the progress of work on FPSO Sepetiba (Mero 2) suffered some impacts.

“The project was impacted by both the supply chain environment and the challenges at the shipyard. A specific mitigation plan has been implemented and its effectiveness will be tested in the coming quarters”, declared the company. Among the challenges cited by SBM in the midst of the pandemic, are travel and logistical restrictions, inflation in the prices of materials and services, shipyard closures and capacity restrictions of suppliers and shipyards.

“The campaign to survey the topside modules [of the FPSO Sepetiba] started at the shipyard in China and the project aims to produce the first oil in 2023”, he added. The FPSO will be connected to up to 16 wells and will have the capacity to process up to 180,000 barrels of oil per day and 12 million m³/day of gas. It will operate in an average water depth of 2,100 meters.

Meanwhile, fabrication of the topsides for the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré is progressing as planned, according to SBM. The works on the topside of the unit are being developed in Brazil. The hull keel strike milestone has now been reached. The project continues to target the first oil in the second half of 2024.

Finally, the Dutch company also stated that the construction of the hull of the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão reached the first steel cutting milestone in the third quarter of this year. “The construction of the FPSO is progressing as planned, with the first oil expected in 2025,” concluded SBM.

The FPSO Almirante Tamandaré will have a processing capacity of 225,000 barrels of oil and 12 million cubic meters of natural gas per day. It will be the largest platform for oil and gas production ever installed in Brazil. The FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão will be able to process 180,000 barrels of oil and 12 million m3 of gas per day.