Offshore Staff
(US, GoM) – Petrobras, the MMS, and US Coast Guard are actively discussing the possibility of deploying an FPSO in the US Gulf of Mexico, says Renato Bertani, president of Petrobras America.
"We are very keen on applying FPSO technology in the GoM," said Bertani at an OTC press conference. "We have had discussions with the MMS and the US Coast Guard and it is very encouraging."
Bertani noted the potential benefits of using a disconnectable FPSO in hurricane-prone environments, such as the GoM.
One possible installation location for the FPSO could be in the Walker Ridge area where it holds an interest in the Cascade, Chinook, and Saint Malo discoveries. Any commercial quantities of associated gas would be exported by pipeline.
Petrobras is also touting its MONOBR concept as a feasible FPSO solution in deepwater and ultra-deepwaters. The company says conceptual studies for using this application in the Gulf are nearing completion, with the final report due out in mid-year.
Bertani says Petrobras has an interest in 287 blocks in the GoM; half of which it operates. Fifty percent of the blocks are located in deepwater.
The company is investing $305 in Gulf E&P this year and $1.5 billion from 2007-2010, he adds.
Bertani also pointed out that the company is working on securing a rig for a five-year deepwater drilling program in the Gulf, which will likely begin in 2008, pending rig availability.
05/03/06
