On December 16, 2024, the Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO, a floating production, storage and transfer unit (FPSO), began its long journey from China to the waters of the Mero field , in the pre-salt basin of Santos, Brazil. This gigantic floating system is intended to increase the production capacity of the field, which is currently one of the most promising in the region, by 31%.
Features of the Alexandre FPSO
The FPSO has an impressive operational capacity, capable of producing 180,000 barrels of oil per day and compressing 12 million cubic meters of gas. The unit, leased by Petrobras to SBM Offshore , will be the fifth platform installed in the Mero field, which already has four FPSOs in operation: Pioneiro de Libra, Guanabara, Sepetiba and Marechal Duque de Caxias. This new platform promises to increase production capacity to 770,000 barrels per day when it comes online in 2025.
One of the most notable features of Gusmão’s FPSO is the HISEP (High Pressure Separator) technology , patented by the Brazilian state-owned energy company. This innovative technology allows oil and gas to be separated on the seabed , re-injecting the CO₂ directly into the reservoir, which not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces environmental impact and emissions.
Check out the FPSO! Source: SBM Offshore
The challenge of ultra-deepwater exploration
The Brazilian company, in collaboration with international partners such as Shell Brasil, TotalEnergies and CNOOC, continues to lead offshore exploration in the Santos Basin. The Mero field is governed by the Libra Production Sharing Agreement, in which Petrobras has a 38.6% stake , reaffirming its commitment to developing large projects in one of the most promising oil regions in the world.
This field is located at a depth of 2,100 meters underwater, about 180 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, which presents significant technical challenges. Despite this, the experience accumulated by Petrobras and its partners has allowed the implementation of advanced technological solutions to maximize production in extreme conditions.
Mero offers many technical challenges for our teams, but we are motivated to operate in one of the most promising offshore areas in the world.
Words from Renata Baruzzi, Director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation at Petrobras,
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Source: Petrobras
Photos: SBM Offshore
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