Petrobras ‘ FPSO P-79 platform arrived this weekend at the Búzios field, in the Santos Basin. The unit has a production capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil per day and a capacity to compress 7.2 million m³ of gas per day, establishing itself as one of the 12 units planned to be installed in this important oil area.
Arrival of the FPSO P-79 platform in the Santos Basin
The transfer of the platform to the Búzios field has been successfully completed, following the strategy used with the P-78 platform. P-78 platformThe strategy involves moving the crew on board, which facilitates the operation of the complex systems. The strategy involves moving the crew on board, which facilitates the operation of the FPSO’s complex systems without interrupting the commissioning process.
FPSO P-79 joins a set of operating platforms in the Búzios field, joining FPSO platforms P-74, P-75, P-76, P-77, Almirante Barroso, Almirante Tamandaré and P-78. This new addition reflects the continuous growth of production in the area, which in October 2025 surpassed the mark of one million barrels of oil produced per day, making it Petrobras’ largest ultra-deepwater production field. The Búzios field is located some 180 kilometers off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in waters up to 2,100 meters deep.
Production development in the Búzios field is part of the Búzios 8 project, which includes the drilling of 14 wells, of which 8 will be producers and 6 water and gas injectors(WAG). The P-79, built by SAME Netherlands, a joint venture formed by Saipem of Italy and Hanwha Ocean of South Korea, has been specifically designed to address the technical challenges of operating in such deep water. The platform hull was built in Geoje-Si, South Korea, and the deck modules were fabricated in various locations, including China, Brazil, South Korea and Indonesia.
The Búzios consortium, active in the field, is composed of Petrobras (as operator), together with the Chinese partner companies CNOOC and CNODC, as well as PPSA, the production sharing contract manager. These international partnerships are fundamental to ensure the success and continuity of operations in the Búzios field.
Source and photo: Petrobras