Offshore Staff

(Houston) - Oceaneering International, Inc. says that Oceaneering Multiflex has obtained contracts worth approximately $42 million by Petrobras to supply umbilicals for the Marlin East, Roncador Phase II, Manati, and Golfinho field developments.

These orders include supply of subsea production controls umbilicals totaling approximately 110 mi in length, which feature the use of high collapse resistant (HCR) hoses developed by Petrobras and Oceaneering.

The HCR hoses, which have a steel carcass, allow for chemical injection using low specific gravity chemicals without incurring the cost and weight disadvantages of stainless steel tubes. Manufacture of these umbilicals at Oceaneering's facility in Niteroi, Brazil is projected to start in September.

"With these contracts we now have more backlog for our Brazil umbilical plant than the previous peak in mid-2001, "said John Huff, chairman and CEO with Oceaneering. "This year we are experiencing what is anticipated to be a record level of worldwide market demand for umbilicals. Based on third-party market estimates we expect historically high levels of umbilical demand to continue into 2006."

(Sept. 2, 2005)