The floating unit developed by Hanwha Ocean for Petrobras began production at the Búzios field and strengthens the capacity of one of the world’s largest deepwater oil assets.
The FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) P-79, built for Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras, officially began its offshore operations and successfully completed its first oil offloading, marking a new milestone in the development of the Búzios field, located in the pre-salt of the Santos Basin.
The unit, whose engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the hull and topsides was executed by Hanwha Ocean, departed from the Geoje shipyard in South Korea in November 2025 and arrived in Brazil in February of this year.
P-79 Drives Búzios Field Expansion
The entry into operation of the P-79 represents a significant step for Petrobras in expanding production at the Búzios field, considered one of the world’s largest ultra-deepwater oil reservoirs.
The floating platform is designed to produce approximately 180,000 barrels of oil per day and has the capacity to compress up to 7.2 million cubic meters of gas daily. These capabilities will significantly increase the total production of the offshore complex.
With the addition of this new unit, Petrobras estimates that the production capacity of the Búzios field will reach approximately 1.33 million barrels per day, strengthening its position as one of the company’s main strategic assets.
Hanwha Ocean Consolidates Its Presence in the FPSO Market
The operational success of the P-79 also represents a technological advancement for Hanwha Ocean, which continues to strengthen its presence in the global market for floating production platform construction.
The South Korean company was responsible for the development of the unit’s hull and topsides under an EPC scheme, demonstrating its capability to execute large-scale offshore projects intended for operations in complex deepwater environments.
The successful completion of testing, initial production, and first crude offloading validate the unit’s technical performance and the quality of work performed during its construction.
Petrobras Accelerates Revenue Generation
In addition to increasing the production capacity of the Búzios field, the FPSO’s entry into operation opens a new revenue stream for Petrobras through the commercialization of produced oil.
The first crude offloading marks the effective start of the platform’s commercial cycle, allowing the production generated by the asset to begin incorporating into the company’s export and sales flow.
The commissioning of the P-79 is part of Petrobras’ strategy to expand production in the Brazilian pre-salt through the progressive incorporation of new floating units.
Currently, the development of Búzios contemplates the entry into operation of additional FPSOs during the coming years, consolidating the field as one of the main growth drivers of the Brazilian offshore industry.
Búzios Strengthens Its Role in Global Offshore
The Búzios field continues to position itself as a global reference in deepwater oil production thanks to its high reserve volumes and the constant incorporation of advanced production infrastructure.
The commissioning of the P-79 reaffirms Petrobras’ commitment to developing high-productivity assets and contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of the Brazilian offshore sector in the international energy market.
Source and photo: https://www.linkedin.com/
