Wärtsilä Hamworthy has won a contract to supply its Flare Gas Recovery packages to four floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units under construction for Petrobras.
The units, each of which will be able to handle 150,000bpd, are to be deployed on the pre-salt fields, off Santos, Brazil. Three of the FPSOs will be utilised for Block BM-S-11 Lula (Tupi) and one will go to Block BM-S-9 Guara.
“We have developed a strong position in the growing market for flare gas recovery as offshore operators seek greater efficiency over increasing environmental concerns due to flaring,” said Hamilton Santos, Project Manager, Gas Recovery Business Unit, Hamworthy Oil & Gas Systems.
“Flaring gas has a global impact on climate change by adding about 400 million tons of CO2 in annual emissions. Petrobras is committed to minimising flaring in its operations and has therefore planned for flare gas recovery systems to be installed on all units for the pre-salt development.”
The contract underscores Wärtsilä Hamworthy’s leading position in this growth market and follows the breakthrough deals signed late last year for systems to be installed on the P58 and P62 FPSO conversions in the Baleia Azul and Roncador fields offshore Brazil, both owned and operated by Petrobras. The business has so far delivered over 20 similar systems to the offshore industry. The first FPSO is expected to be operational by the end of 2014, with the next three producing by 2015.
“Petrobras made its biggest oil field discovery to date in the pre-salt development and the Tupi block alone will increase Brazil’s reserves by around 50%,” Mr Santos added.