Petrobras moving forward with FPSO electrification

Brazilian federal oil firm Petrobras is advancing with its plan to reduce the environmental impact of its exploration and production (E&P) operations. 

In addition to innovations such as subsea gas separator Hisep, the company is betting on the electrification of FPSOs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

"Petrobras is considering ‘all-electric’ FPSOs for all its future projects," a source familiar with the matter told BNamericas on condition of anonymity. 

The all-electric configuration consists of optimizations in the FPSO processing plant to increase energy efficiency and the incorporation of new technologies. These include zero routine venting solutions (recovery of vented gases from cargo tanks and the processing plant), deep seawater abstraction, the use of variable speed drives in pumps and compressors, cogeneration (waste heat recovery unit), zero routine flaring (recovery of torch gases-closed flare), valves with low fugitive emissions requirements and the capture, use and geological storage of CO2 from the gas produced.

Last Friday, Petrobras announced the contracting of the P-84 and P-85 platforms with Seatrium O&G Americas, for the second phase of development of the Atapu and Sépia fields in the Santos basin pre-salt.

The units will have 30% lower greenhouse gas emissions per barrel of oil equivalent produced. 

Another case of Petrobras' all electric FPSO is the Maria Quitéria unit, which is scheduled to start operating in the first quarter of 2025. 

Chartered with Yinson, the platform ship left China earlier this month for the Jubarte field in the Campos basin, where it should arrive in the second half of the year. 

With capacity to produce 100,000b/d of oil and 5Mm3/d (million cubic meters per day) of gas, the platform has decarbonization technologies, such as combined-cycle power generation, allowing for a CO2 emissions reduction of around 20%.

The Barracuda/Caratinga FPSO, whose tender is underway, may also be an all-electric unit. 

Originally, the concept was planned to be adopted for the Albacora FPSO, but the source said the approach may change after the unit's bid was canceled. "Petrobras will have to redo the Albacora bid, and it can't yet say what it will look like," the source said. 

ATAPU-2, SEPIA-2 

The P-84 and P-85 will work in water depths of more than 2,000m and are expected to start production in 2029 or 2030.

Each will have production capacity of 225,000b/d of oil and process 10Mm3/d of natural gas. 

Construction will be carried out in shipyards in Brazil, China and Singapore, and local content percentages will be 20% for the P-84 and 25% for the P-85.

The Atapu and Sépia fields have two producing platforms: the P-70 in Atapu and the FPSO Carioca in Sépia. 

Petrobras holds a 65.7% stake in Atapu in partnership with Shell (16.7%), TotalEnergies (15%), Petrogal Brasil (1.7%) and the federal government, represented by PPSA, which has 0.9%. 

In the Sépia field, Petrobras has 55.3% in partnership with TotalEnergies (16.9%), Petronas (12.7%), QatarEnergy (12.7%) and Petrogal Brasil (2.4%). 

WHAT THE PARTNERS SAID 

In a press release, TotalEnergies' E&P president, Nicolas Terraz, stated that the approval of Sépia-2 and Atapu-2 is a new milestone in the company's growth story in Brazil. 

"After the start of Mero-2 at the end of 2023 and the start-ups of Mero-3 in 2024 and Mero-4 in 2025, Brazil will account for more than 200,000boe/d in equity production for the company," he said. 

Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s integrated gas and upstream director, said that Atapu-2 is another example of the company’s commitment to invest in higher margin, lower carbon opportunities for its upstream business. 

“As the largest foreign producer in Brazil, this project reinforces both the importance of Brazil within our global deepwater portfolio, as well as our strategic partnership with Petrobras worldwide,” she highlighted.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s energy minister and CEO of QatarEnergy, welcomed the award of the contract as an important landmark in the company’s activities in Brazil.