Brazil's Petrobras pumps first oil from Mero field FPSO Alexandre de Gusmao

Brazilian state-led oil company Petrobras pumped first oil from the Alexandre de Gusmao floating production, storage, and offloading vessel installed at the Mero field on May 24, about two months ahead of schedule, amid the company's efforts to accelerate development of the offshore subsalt region.

"The start of operations of another FPSO is strategic and represents the company's efforts to anticipate deliveries of new production systems in a sustainable and innovative way, contributing in a definitive way to Petrobras' results," Renata Baruzzi, Petrobras' director for engineering, technology and innovation, said May 24.

Brazil's National Petroleum Agency, or ANP, authorized Petrobras to start operations onboard the vessel May 21, the country's lead regulator for the oil and natural gas industry said May 22.

The FPSO can produce 180,000 b/d and 12 million cu m/d, according to Petrobras. The FPSO, which is owned and operated by SBM Offshore, will be connected to a total of 12 wells, including five production wells and seven alternating water and natural gas injection wells.

Petrobras had previously expected the FPSO in July but it arrived at the field from a shipyard in China on March 5 and was anchored in 10 days, according to Petrobras.

The vessel was the third floating production unit to enter operations ahead of Petrobras' installation schedule under CEO Magda Chambriard. Chambriard took over leadership at the company in May 2024, replacing Jean Paul Prates.

The FPSO Maria Quiteria started operations at the Jubarte field in the Whales Park complex offshore oil fields ahead of schedule in October 2024, while the FPSO Almirante Tamandare started operations at the Buzios field in February. The FPSO Maria Quiteria can produce 100,000 b/d and 5 million cu m/d. The FPSO Almirante Tamandare, meanwhile, is the biggest floating production unit installed offshore Brazil to date at 225,000 b/d and 12 million cu m/d.

Petrobras and its subsalt development partners plan to install one more floating production unit offshore Brazil under the company's $111 billion investment plan for 2025-2029, according to the company. The FPSO P-78 was expected to pump first oil from the Buzios field in the second half of the year. The FPSO is scheduled to arrive in Brazilian waters in mid-2025.

The FPSO P-78 has an installed capacity to produce 180,000 b/d and 7.2 million cu m/d.

Fifth FPSO at Mero

The FPSO Alexandre de Gusmao will be the fifth to start production at the Mero field in the Libra production sharing area, which was the first subsalt acreage sold under Brazil's production sharing regime when it was auctioned in 2013. That will bring total installed production capacity at Mero to 770,000 b/d, according to Petrobras.

The FPSO Marechal Duque de Caxias started production in October 2024, while the FPSO Sepetiba started operations in December 2023 and the FPSO Guanabara pumped first oil in April 2022. In addition, the FPSO Pioneiro de Libra has conducted long-term well tests at Mero since 2017.

The FPSOs Guanabara, Marechal Duque de Caxias and Sepetiba have installed capacity to produce 180,000 b/d and process up to 12 million cu m/d, according to Petrobras. The FPSO Pioneiro de Libra, meanwhile, can produce up to 50,000 b/d.

"Since 2022, we have started operation of a large production system at the Mero field each year," said Sylvia Anjos, Petrobras' director for exploration and production. "This proves the capacity of our teams to perform, as well as the relevance and quality of this asset in the global scenario."