Subsea UK is leading a delegation of British companies to Rio de Janeiro on 21 March in order to capitalise on the major opportunities presented by the planned oil and gas developments offshore Brazil.
The subsea delegation is part of a five-day energy mission organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) energy mission and will seek to underline UK energy excellence, knowledge, innovation and expertise.
The UK Brazil Energy Excellence Forum, on 22 March 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, will be the focal point of the subsea business mission led by Subsea UK chief executive, Alistair Birnie.
Mr Birnie said: ‘ Around $230 billion of capital expenditure is planned for offshore Brazil in the next four to five years with 40 FPSOs and 28 drill-ships and semi-submersibles required to be built for Brazilian waters.
“There is a window of opportunity right now which needs to be grasped by UK companies – even in 18 months it will be too late. The Brazilian oil and gas market, and Petrobras in particular, already see the UK as a major player and are encouraged by the commitment of British companies to their subsea developments.”
With exploration moving into water depths of 2,500 metres, new game-changing technology is required and Brazil is working hard to fast-track this technology.
Mr Birnie added: ‘ British organisations harbour the innovation, knowledge and expertise necessary to help Brazil deliver its projects and companies with riser technology and expertise, subsea electronics and controls as well as pipeline products and services are in demand .’
Mr Birnie will also preside over a subsea workshop that will feature presentations from key industry figures in the region including Ricardo Cunha Mattos Portella, manager of the flow assurance and artificial lift group in Cenpes at Petrobras, Wellstream’s director, Judimar Clevelario, Ian Griffiths, vice president of Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD), Wood Group Kenny’s director, Otavio Serta.
Participating companies will meet with an array of Brazilian energy companies in a bid to make promote their expertise, knowledge and innovation, visit the regional bases of Petrobras, Statoil, BG, LLX, Technip and Shell and attend the UK energy in Brazil 2011 gala dinner.
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Source: subseauk , March 21, 2011; Image: ukenergyinbrazil