(PN) According to the company’s Director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation, Renata Baruzzi, the bidding processes for the contracting of two FPSOs for the Sergipe Aguas Profundas project (SEAP 1 and 2) will be launched by the end of this year. Petrobras is currently discussing with the other companies in the SEAP consortium the best model for contracting the platforms.
“Regarding the SEAP-1 and SEAP-2 projects, we sent our proposal for conducting this bidding to our partners. As soon as they give their approval, we will be able to move forward. Our expectation is that we will put this tender on the market by the end of the year,” the director stated during a recent press conference . The estimated start of production for these two vessels will be revealed to the market on November 22, when Petrobras will release its new strategic plan.
The company has already tried on two other occasions to contract the FPSOs for SEAP, but the tenders were unsuccessful. There is talk in the market that Petrobras will opt for the BOT (build, operate and transfer) model in this new tender.
As a reminder, the SEAP 1 project covers the deposits belonging to the Agulhinha, Agulhinha Oeste, Cavala and Palombeta fields, located in the BM-SEAL-10 and BM-SEAL-11 concessions. Petrobras is the operator of the BM-SEAL-11 concessions – with a 60% stake, in partnership with IBV Brasil Petróleo LTDA (40%) – and BM-SEAL-10, where it holds a 100% stake. The SEAP 2 project covers deposits belonging to the Budião, Budião Noroeste and Budião Sudeste fields, located in the BM-SEAL-4, BM-SEAL-4A and BM-SEAL-10 concessions, respectively. Petrobras is the operator of the BM-SEAL-4 concessions – with a 75% stake in partnership with ONGC Campos Limitada (25%) – and BM-SEAL-4A and BM-SEAL-10, where it holds a 100% stake.
NEW PLATFORMS FOR BARRACUDA-CARATINGA AND ALBACORA
Renata Baruzzi said that the oil company should also start bidding by the end of the year to contract the Albacora field unit, in the Campos Basin. As with SEAP, Petrobras also tried in the past to contract a plant for this project, but was unable to reach an agreement with the bidders. Albacora is located approximately 110 km east of Cabo de São Tomé, on the northern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Production from the field is currently being carried out by platforms P-25, of the SS (Semi-Submersible) type, and P-31, of the FPSO type. The oil flow network for P-25 consists of an oil pipeline that connects the unit to P-31.
The Petrobras director added that the contracting process for Barracuda-Carantiga, also in the Campos Basin, has already received proposals and is in the evaluation phase. Finally, the executive reported that Petrobras has been talking to the supplier industry to understand what the main difficulties have been in executing new projects. According to her, one of the main obstacles currently is the companies’ financing.
“We have made adjustments to both the cash flow and the contracting model to improve the financial conditions for the companies. We are encouraging several companies to work with Petrobras again. Recently, [Petrobras] President Magda Chambriard and I were in Asia. We held several meetings about two weeks ago to bring international companies to work in Brazil, in partnership with Brazilian companies. Many of these companies have already signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with local companies to participate in the construction of these platforms here in Brazil,” she said.
Brazil Energy Insight 
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