Executive Q&A: MODEC’s Soichi Ide on FPSO trends and digitalization offshore Brazil
In a focused conversation between Offshore's Chief Editor Ariana Hurtado and Soichi Ide, Head of Floating Production Solutions at MODEC, he highlights the company's strategic approach to FPSO operations in Brazil.
Key topics covered:
- Local content in Brazil: MODEC’s approach to meeting regulatory requirements and partnering with Brazilian contractors.
- Presalt challenges: Technical and operational hurdles in ultradeepwater regions and how MODEC addresses them.
- Gato do Mato innovations: Out-of-the-box topsides design, modular construction and CO2 reduction strategies.
- Lessons learned: Operational insights from 20+ years in Brazil, including uptime, safety and data-driven design.
- Digitalization & AI: Predictive maintenance, generative and agentic AI, and cybersecurity in FPSO systems.
He addresses how MODEC is adapting to Brazil’s evolving regulatory and technical landscape as well as the role of digital transformation in FPSO design, construction and operations. He also highlights MODEC's practical innovations that improve efficiency, reduce emissions and enhance long-term performance.
Chapter timestamps:
00:10 - Introduction: MODEC’s Soichi Ide on FPSO Trends
00:45 - Local content requirements in Brazil
02:15 - Impact of Brazilian legislation on FPSO construction
04:00 - Operational challenges in Brazil’s presalt regions
05:30 - Innovations in the Gato do Mato FPSO project
07:15 - Lessons learned from MODEC’s Brazil operations
09:00 - Digitalization and automation in FPSO systems
10:30 - MODEC’s use of AI and predictive maintenance
12:00 - Closing remarks and future outlook
Watch the full interview on YouTube!
The conversation doesn't end there...
In an in-depth discussion with Offshore, MODEC's Soichi Ide explores the future of FPSO design and operations, including:
✅ Bespoke vs. standardized FPSO designs
✅ Optimizing topsides layout and modular construction
✅ Oil vs. gas field development trends
✅ Shallow vs. deepwater mooring challenges
✅ Post-pandemic supply chain and shipyard bottlenecks
✅ The role of 3D printing and modularization
✅ Newbuild vs. conversion vs. refurbishment strategies
✅ Decarbonization: CCS, hybrid power, and gas turbines
✅ MODEC’s innovations in Brazil, including Gato do Mato
✅ Digitalization, AI, and predictive maintenance
✅ The future of FPSOs and offshore energy
Watch the full 48-minute video interview on Offshore's YouTube.
Coming soon!
Offshore's 2nd annual Offshore Brazil Regional Report is publishing later this week.
In the meantime, check out the 2024 Deepwater Brazil Special Report.
About the Author
Ariana Hurtado
Editor-in-Chief
With more than a decade of copy editing, project management and journalism experience, Ariana Hurtado is a seasoned managing editor born and raised in the energy capital of the world—Houston, Texas. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of Offshore, overseeing the editorial team, its content and the brand's growth from a digital perspective.
Utilizing her editorial expertise, she manages digital media for the Offshore team. She also helps create and oversee new special industry reports and revolutionizes existing supplements, while also contributing content to Offshore's magazine, newsletters and website as a copy editor and writer.
Prior to her current role, she served as Offshore's editor and director of special reports from April 2022 to December 2024. Before joining Offshore, she served as senior managing editor of publications with Hart Energy. Prior to her nearly nine years with Hart, she worked on the copy desk as a news editor at the Houston Chronicle.
She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Houston.