The partnership between Altera Infrastructure and Brava Energia started almost 10 years ago, when both companies signed an agreement for the chartering and operation of one of Altera’s most iconic units: the FPSO Petrojarl I.
Altera Infrastructure is a global energy infrastructure services operator with different business lines, and it is our vision to lead the industry to a sustainable future. We are doing that through leveraging on our history and know-how to develop innovative solutions and business models for our clients.
Redeploying the FPSO Petrojarl I for Brava is a clear example of that. Altera truly believes that sustainability has many facets, and that includes taking part in projects that provide secure and affordable energy. It is part of our sustainability culture to utilize our resources to the most, and this is a strategy we have followed for years through the redeployment of FPSOs.The story of Petrojarl I begins in 1984, when Altera (at that time Golar Nor) starts to build the FPSO. The unit was designed by Tentech and built at a Japanese shipyard. It was made to operate in the harsh conditions of the North Sea, and has since then had more than 10 reallocations, making it the industry leader in number of redeployments. Petrojarl I has also proudly supported Brava as the early production system (EPS) in the Atlanta Project.
It was in 2015 that Altera’s and Brava’s long lasting and successful partnership began. Both companies entered into an agreement to upgrade the Petrojarl I for the Atlanta field. The scope was carried out in Europe, and the unit arrived at location in 2018, after a successful life extension and yard scope. The FPSO was originally intended to operate until May 2023, but both companies agreed that the unit should stay longer on the field. For that purpose, a life extension and upgrade work was required, but this time the scope had to be carried out offshore. The production was shut down for over 40 days, and a flotel was chartered to stay alongside the FPSO for 75 days. More than 150 people were mobilized and carried out activities for 24/7.
With all the outstanding efforts from Altera, Brava and the partnership with our suppliers, 75% of the life extension scope was completed within 8 months. “It was only possible to execute this challenging scope offshore without any LTI due to the dedication and good collaboration between Altera, Brava and DNV” remembers Ivan Rongel, Asset Manager at the time. The project was a great success, and the FPSO got a 5-year class renewal certificate that led to a contract extension.
In the Atlanta field, Petrojarl I has produced more than 25 million barrels of oil! Health, safety, environment and quality (HSEQ) have always been key priorities for Altera. All our activities, both on- and offshore, are guided by the highest standards of safety which are included and described in our management system. We proactively implemented different HSEQ campaigns that have led to different safety recognitions from our client – including Petrojarl I reaching the 1000 days LTI free mark in 2023!
But operations have not always been easy in Petrojarl I. Altera and Brava faced the challenge of operating during the COVID pandemic. However, due to the strong teamwork spirit between the parties, new procedures, and processes to follow the local authorities’ requirements, and to ensure the safest environment for our offshore resources, were promptly implemented. The impact of COVID to Petrojarl I daily activities was minimized, and the unit operated safely during this demanding time. “In my view, collaboration, constructiveness and pragmatisms are clear traits of Brava’s culture, and that has been instrumental for us to navigate unprecedented challenges like COVID while also generating a lot of value to our stakeholders and to the society” adds José Elias, managing director for Altera in Brazil.
Altera and Brava have made history together in Brazil. The redeployment of Petrojarl I has led the way for Brava to fully understand and further develop the Atlanta field, and Altera is extremely proud to have supported Brava in the first phase of this project!
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