Offshore staff

RIDO DE JANEIRO -- Platform P-51 has left the BrasFELS shipyard dock in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, and set sail towards the Ilha Grande Bay, where it will be submitted to final testing and adjustments before kicking-off operations in the Marlim Sul field, in the Campos basin.

After the testing period, which is expected to last about 15 days, the P-51 will be anchored in the Marlim Sul field, in 1,255 m (4,117 ft) water depth, 150 km (93 mi) off the coast. The platform will be interconnected to 19 wells (10 oil and gas producers and nine water injectors) and will start producing in January.

Entirely built in Brazil, the P-51 marks the history of the Brazilian naval industry with upwards of 75% national content, Petrobras says. The platform's construction work included the production of the first Brazilian semisubmersible hull.

11/20/2008