Japan-based MODEC has secured a letter of intent (LoI) from Petrobras for a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) contract for the Marlim field offshore Brazil.

Located in the Campos Basin, in the northern region of the Rio de Janeiro State, 150km off the coast, the Marlim field is wholly operated by Petrobras.

The contract is for a period of 25 years and is the 16th project of MODEC in Brazil as well as it’s sixth in the Campos Basin.

The FPSO will be part of the Marlim cluster revitalisation project and the first oil production from the vessel is planned for 2022.

The Japanese firm will handle the engineering, procurement, construction, mobilisation, chartering and operations of the FPSO, including topsides processing equipment in addition to the hull and marine systems. SOFEC, a MODEC group company, will undertake the design and supply of the spread mooring system for the floating unit.

FPSO vessel will have a processing capacity of 80,000 barrels of crude oil

According to MODEC, the FPSO vessel will have a processing capacity of 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), 7 million standard cubic meter of gas per day, 390,000 barrels of water injection per day, and will be able to store at least 1 million barrels of crude oil.

MODEC president and CEO Yuji Kozai said: “This new contract reflects our commitment with our operations in Brazil and with Petrobras.

“Brazil is a key country in our business strategy and is about to enter a very promising period for the energy segment.

“Brazilian market and Petrobras have been supporting us by strengthening our position in global offshore oil and gas industry for nearly 20 years.

“It is our wish to continue to support the development of the local oil and gas industry, either through mature fields like the Marlim revitalization project as well as green field projects in the pre-salt, amongst others.”

Tokyo-based off-shore operator MODEC will also supply three more FPSOs namely the FPSO Carioca MV30, the FPSO Guanabara MV31 and the FPSO Almirante Barroso MV32 for Brazil in the next few years. These FPSOs will be deployed in the pre-salt of Santos Basin.

In June, MODEC delivered an FPSO vessel for the Buzios field offshore Brazil owned 100% by Petróleo Brasileiro (Petrobras).