BrasFELS Shipyard, a member of the Seatrium group, has secured a contract from Offshore Frontier Solutions Pte. Ltd, a MODEC Group company, to build parts of the topside modules fabrication of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Equinor-led Raia project in Brazil.
BrasFELS’ scope of work comprises the fabrication of three modules: vapor recovery unit/ flare knockout (VRU/ FLARE KO); oil separation and stabilization; and the flowline circulation and metering and utility systems.
The work will be done at Seatrium’s BrasFELS shipyard located in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024.
"We are pleased to partner with MODEC on yet another FPSO topside modules fabrication project, affirming Seatrium’s position as a leading global player in FPSO newbuilds and conversions,” said Marlin Khiew, executive vice president, oil and gas (Americas), Seatrium. “Over the years, we have leveraged our deep engineering expertise, international yard footprint, and strong track record to deliver over 260 floating production unit (FPU) and FPSO conversions and newbuilds, solidifying our market leadership in this product segment.”
This latest win marks the eighth project collaboration between BrasFELS and MODEC.
The Raia FPSO will be capable of processing gas and oil/condensate to meet sales specifications without further onshore processing. The vessel will have a production capacity of 126,000 B/D of oil and 16 million m3/D of natural gas with a storage capacity of 2 million bbl of crude oil. Average exports from the facility are expected to be 14 million m3/D of gas.
The development of Raia Manta and Raia Pintada will be the first project in Brazil to treat gas offshore and be connected to the national grid without further onshore processing. The sales gas is planned to be exported through a 200-km offshore gas pipeline from the FPSO to Cabiúnas, in the city of Macaé, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Liquids are planned to be offloaded by shuttle tankers.
Equinor, on behalf of the BM-C-33 consortium, submitted development plans for the estimated $9 billion Raia Manta and Raia Pintada project in September. The discoveries were made by development partner Repsol Sinopec in 2010. Equinor became the operator in 2016.
Raia Manta and Raia Pintada are in the Campos Basin pre-salt in Brazil approximately 200 km from shore, in water depths up to 2900 m.
The combined fields contain recoverable natural gas and oil/condensate of more than 1 billion BOE.
Field startup is expected in 2028.
Equinor operates Raia with a 35% working interest. Partners include Repsol Sinopec Brazil (35%) and Petrobras (30%).
