Petrobras and its Libra block partners have drawn first oil from Mero-4, the fourth development phase of the Mero field in Brazil’s Santos Basin through the Alexandre de Gusmão vessel.
According to Petrobras, Alexandre de Gusmão began operations more than two months ahead of the planned schedule.
This floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit, chartered from SBM Offshore for a period of 22.5 years, is capable of producing 180,000 barrels of oil daily. It can compress and reinject 12 million cubic metres of gas each day.
The initiation of operations at FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão will elevate the installed production capacity at the Mero field to 770,000 barrels per day.
Currently, a total of five FPSOs are in production at this offshore Brazilian field. The other four FPSOs are Pioneiro de Libra, Guanabara, Sepetiba, and Marechal Duque de Caxias.
Petrobras engineering, technology and innovation director Renata Baruzzi said: “The entry into operation of another FPSO is strategic and represents the company’s effort to anticipate the deliveries of new production systems, in a sustainable and innovative way, contributing decisively to Petrobras’ results.”
The Mero-4 project was initially launched in August 2021. It involves connecting 12 wells to the Alexandre de Gusmão platform via a subsea infrastructure.
The project includes five oil producers, six alternate water or gas injectors, and one convertible well that will transition from oil production to gas injection.
This new phase aims to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through the reinjection of associated gas into the reservoir, achieving zero routine flaring.
FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão is equipped with technology for high-pressure separation (HISEP), a patented method by Petrobras currently undergoing qualification. This system facilitates underwater separation between extracted oil and CO₂-rich associated gas for reinjection into the reservoir.
The Mero field operations are managed by a consortium led by Petrobras with a 38.6% stake. Other partners include Shell Brasil and TotalEnergies each holding 19.3%, CNPC and CNOOC at 9.65% each, and Pré-Sal Petróleo SA (PPSA) with a 3.5% share as contract manager.
