Petrobras, as the operator of the Libra Consortium, has signed a contract with Modec to charter an FPSO unit, the first definitive production system of Mero field, which will be used in the Mero Pilot project off Brazil.
The project includes the interconnection of up to 17 wells to the platform and the start of the production is planned for 2021, Petrobras said in a statement on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, Total, a partner in the Libra consortium, said it had taken an investment decision for the first large-scale development phase of the Libra project.
The FPSO will have a daily operational capacity rate up to 180,000 barrels of oil (bpd) and 12 million cubic meters per day of gas and will be installed in a water depth of 2,100 meters, in Mero Field, located in the northwestern area of the Libra block, about 180 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, in the pre-salt of the Santos basin.
The unit will be operated by Modec, the company responsible for the construction, and chartered for 22 years. Part of the construction will be carried out in Brazil, aligned with Petrobras’ experience with other charters already performed.
Until now, 12 wells were drilled in Libra block. Because of its extension, high production potential, good quality of its oil and high commercial value, Libra opens a new business opportunity to the offshore industry.
The production on the Libra block started on November 26, this year, with the beginning of operation of Pioneiro de Libra FPSO, dedicated to Extended Well Tests and Early Production Systems. The consortium has declared commerciality of the oil accumulation located in the northwestern portion of the block on November 30, as disclosed to the market. With the declaration of commerciality, the northwestern portion of Libra officially became a field and was named Mero Field.
Libra Consortium is led by Petrobras – with a 40% interest – in partnership with Shell (20%); Total (20%), CNPC (10%) and CNOOC Limited (10%). The consortium also has the participation of the state-owned company Pré-Sal Petróleo SA (PPSA) as manager of the Production Sharing Agreement.