Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO Sets Sail for Brazil’s Mero Field

The Alexandre de Gusmão floating, production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit has embarked on its journey from China to Brazil, where it will be deployed at Petrobras’ Mero field in the Santos Basin.

Departing from China on December 16, the FPSO completed construction at COSCO Shipping’s shipyard and was delivered to leasing partners SBM Offshore and Petrobras.

With the capability to produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day and compress 12 million cubic meters of gas daily, the Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO is a significant addition to the Mero field.

Enhancing Production Capacity

Expected to commence operations in 2025, the FPSO will boost Mero’s current production capacity by 31%, reaching 770,000 barrels daily. The field, situated in ultra-deep waters of the Santos Basin 180 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, already hosts four operational FPSOs.

The unitized Mero field operates under the Libra Production Sharing Agreement, with Petrobras leading the consortium alongside Shell Brasil, TotalEnergies, CNOOC, CNPC, and Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA).

Environmentally-Friendly Technology

The FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão is equipped with HISEP (High-Pressure Separator) technology, developed by Petrobras. This innovative technology facilitates subsea separation of extracted oil and associated gas, reducing environmental impact and emission intensity.

Sylvia Couto dos Anjos, E&P Director for Petrobras, expressed confidence in the project, stating, “Since 2022, we have started producing one large system per year at Mero, demonstrating the capability of our teams and the quality of this world-class asset.”

The FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão marks the fifth platform to be installed at the Mero field, showcasing advancements in offshore oil and gas production in Brazil.