Sept. 3--Campos basin, FPSOs hot

Brazil country manager João Carlos Pacheco has said the Campos Basin remains the greatest focus of exploratory activity, with the Santos Basin to the south and Espirito Santo Basin to the north also seeing activity. Ship-shaped FPSO vessels remain the preferred development option for these frontier prospects, with ABS as the leading classification society for FPSO conversions for offshore Brazil, he said.
ABS has classified five major FPSO conversion projects destined for offshore Brazil. The projects include the FPSO Brasil; the Petrobras 43; Petrobras 48; Petrobras 50; and the Fluminense. Using ABS SafeHull, he explains, a 25-year-old tanker can be evaluated to the same extent as a new-build vessel. All FPSOs are equipped with this technology.
ABS can also certify the subsea components, including risers, flowlines and umbilicals. With regard to these five conversions, the Brasil and Fluminense will incorporate a turret mooring system. The P43, P48, and P50 will have a differentiated compliant anchoring system (Dicas) spread mooring system, developed by the Petrobras Research Center. The Brasil is the first scheduled for delivery, with installation in the Campos Basin expected to begin this month.