Offshore staff
(Brazil)-Keppel FELS Ltd. delivered the lower hull of the semisubmersible floating production platform (FPU),P-52, in Brazil at the end of March after being at sea for 35 days.
The $775-million contract, a joint 75/25 consortium between Keppel and Technip, was originally signed in December 2003. The contract called for Keppel FELS to build the lower hull, while sister company Keppel FELS Brasil SA was to provide the deckbox, the complete topsides and the living quarters. The involvement of Keppel FELS Brasil also fulfilled a requirement by the Brazilian government for local content.
Technip's part in the contract called for providing the process engineering and marine mating.
TheP-52 lower hull was delivered to Keppel FELS Brasil's BrasFELS yard in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. In order to allow access and movement of the hull into the shipyard, the Jacuecanga Channel was dredged. Dredging began in early January 2006 to increase the dimensions of the access channel to the wharf by an additional 2.25 m in depth, 1 km in length and 200 m in width.
Prior to the start of dredging work on the Jacuecanga Channel, BrasFELS conducted a two-year period of studies and community awareness activities to educate local stakeholders on the nature and implication of the work. Five environmental programs were developed to minimize possible impacts on fishing and tourism activities in the area. After this successful campaign, BrasFELS received an environmental license from the Rio's State Foundation of Engineering and Environment (FEEMA).
A dredge solemnity-carrier was selected to carry out the dredging by suction to ensure minimal impact. The dumping ground is 35 mi off the coast and was chosen to ensure that the temporary dispersions of the materials during dumping do not alter the transparency of the water at the beaches and tourist spots.
The expansion of the BrasFELS shipyard is highly significant to the citizens of Angra dos Reis. It has secured continual livelihood for 5,000 residents from the town, who depend on the consistent stream of work provided by the shipyard.
It also enables Keppel FELS Brasil to carry out future mega projects requiring deep draft, besides the immediate movement of theP-52 and its twin project, the P-51, to and from the yard.
Keppel reports that when it is completed, theP-52 FPU will stand 34-stories high and 10 Olympic swimming pools wide (250 m). The platform will be anchored in a depth of 1,795 m in the Campos Basin, and will have the capacity to produce 180,000 b/d of 28° API petroleum and to compress 9.3 MMcm/d of gas.
04/04/2006
