Offshore staff

RIO DE JANEIRO – Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. has signed a $1.7-billion agreement to convert four VLCC vessels into hulls for platforms P-74, P-75, P-76, P-77, and for the transfer of rights areas.

The agreement is with a consortium of Norberto Odebrecht S/A, OAS Ltda., and UTC Engenharia S/A. The work will be done at the Inhaúma shipyard in Rio de Janeiro state.

Each platform will have the capacity to produce 150,000 b/d of oil and compress 7 MMcm/d (247 MMcf/d) of natural gas, and will operate in the Franco and Nordeste de Tupi prospects, located in the pre-salt area of the Santos basin.

Conversion work should begin in June. The first unit is platform P-74, with conversion of the hull expected to be concluded in March 2014. The conversion of the P-75 hull is scheduled to be concluded in October 2014. The P-76 and P-77 hulls should be converted in 2015.

At those times, each hull will do to another location for installation of topsides modules. Petrobras says the agreement for the topsides should be signed by April 2013.

5/8/2012