The company completed the forward section of the hull of its new Next Generation Hull design, which will be integrated in China before continuing with the construction of the unit destined for the Gato do Mato project in Brazil.
The Japanese company MODEC announced a new breakthrough in the development of the FPSO Gato do Mato after finishing the construction of the forward hull section at the Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering (SHI-ME) facilities, located in Yokosuka, Japan. The structure has already begun its journey to China, where it will be joined with the aft section currently under fabrication.
Thus, the project enters a new stage within the construction schedule of the floating platform destined for Brazil’s offshore development. Once the integration of both sections is completed, the hull will proceed with the subsequent phases of outfitting and preparation.
Simultaneous construction to optimize execution
MODEC explained that this project employs a construction model distributed among several shipyards, allowing different parts of the hull to be developed in parallel. This approach seeks to optimize available industrial capacity and improve the efficiency of the execution program without compromising quality and safety standards.
According to Soichi Ide, head of MODEC’s Floating Production Solutions Business Unit, this collaboration represents the first time the company has worked together with SHI-ME to manufacture an FPSO hull using a multi-yard scheme.
The executive noted that this methodology expands the company’s operational flexibility and strengthens its capacity to deliver highly complex offshore projects.
The Next Generation Hull design debuts in this project
The FPSO Gato do Mato will be the first unit built with the Next Generation Hull (NGH) design developed by MODEC.
The company indicated that this new architecture seeks to facilitate hull construction, improve the scalability of future projects, and increase efficiency during all stages of execution. The design also responds to the increase in technical complexity of deepwater offshore developments.
Furthermore, MODEC considers that the incorporation of the NGH along with new industrial alliances will allow for more efficient solutions for floating production projects in different markets.
A new FPSO for Brazil’s offshore development
The unit will have the capacity to produce approximately 120,000 barrels of oil per day and will operate at a depth of nearly 2,000 meters, about 200 kilometers south of Rio de Janeiro, using a SOFEC® mooring system.
The FPSO Gato do Mato will be the nineteenth FPSO or FSO unit developed by MODEC for Brazil and the second that the company will deliver directly to Shell for operation in the country.
The project corresponds to the development of the Orca Field, led by Shell as operator in partnership with Ecopetrol, while PPSA acts as the administrator of the Production Sharing Contract.
Source and photo: Modec
