Project Profiles

Petrobras: P-78 FPSO Brazil

Last Updated on Oct 24, 2025, 02:20 PM IST
Petrobras: P-78 FPSO Brazil

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Description

Details

Project Leader & Owner

Petrobras

Topside Module Construction & Integration

Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M)

Oil Storage Capacity

2 million barrels

Gas Processing Capacity

7.2 million cubic meters per day

Project Cost

USD 2.3 Million

FPSO Hull & Living Quarters

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI)

Power Generation & Compression Packages

Siemens Energy

Hull

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI)

Oil Production Capacity

180,000 bopd

Contract Awarded Year

2021

Expected Completion Date

2024

Project Overview

The P78 FPSO (Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading) project is in the Santos Basin pre-salt area. The project, headed by Keppel Offshore & Marine, integrates modules, including Hyundai Heavy Industries' hull and living quarters and Siemens Energy's power generation and compression packages.

 

The floating production storage system has a remarkable oil production capacity of 180,000 barrels per day (bopd) and a gas processing capacity of 7.2 million cubic meters daily. The P-78 FPSO platform incorporates advanced technologies to ensure efficient operation and minimize environmental impact. This includes the use of Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRUs) supplied by Siemens Energy.

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The FPSO will play a significant role in the Búzios field alongside four other floating production systems currently operating. The P 78 FPSO is scheduled for completion in late 2024 to meet Brazil's energy needs.

Currently, The FPSO P-78 arrived at the Búzios Field in Brazil’s Santos Basin on September 30, after departing Singapore’s Benoi shipyard on July 13. The unit will soon be connected to wells to begin production.

Location of the P78 FPSO in Brazil

Buzios oil and gas field, Brazil

The FPSO P78  will be installed in the Búzios field, a deepwater oil field in the Santos Basin, approximately 200 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro??. The Búzios field is in water depths ranging from 1,600 to 2,100 meters.

Design and Engineering Details

The FPSO's design includes advanced engineering for topside modules fabricated in Singapore, China, and Brazil. Siemens Energy's turbomachinery packages include gas turbine generator packages and electric motor-driven compressor trains for gas processing and CO2 reinjection.

Logistics and Accessibility

The FPSO's construction involves multiple global locations, with integration and commissioning occurring offshore Brazil. Logistics management includes transporting modules from Singapore, China, and Brazil to the final installation site.

Project Timeline

Keppel P78 FPSO Brazil project timeline

Project Cost

Petrobras has awarded Keppel Shipyard a USD 2.3 billion contract to construct the P-78 FPSO in the Búzios field.

Environmental and Regulatory Compliance

The P78 FPSO project underwent an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to evaluate its potential effects on marine ecosystems and coastal regions, ensuring minimal adverse impacts. In adherence to both Brazilian National Petroleum Agency (ANP) regulations and international environmental standards, the project maintains sustainable operations. 

Technological Innovations and Features

The P78 FPSO utilizes Siemens Energy's gas turbine generators and electric motor-driven compressor trains to ensure efficient operation. Advanced automation systems and digital monitoring enhance operational efficiency while maintaining safety standards.

Four Siemens Energy traditional WHRUs are incorporated to capture waste heat from the power modules. These units utilize a combination of parallel and counter flow sections in the heat exchanger to optimize heat recovery. Louvre dampers are employed to control and direct the flow over the heat exchanger modules, ensuring efficient conversion of waste heat into usable energy. This system reduces CO2 emissions and saves energy, contributing to the project's environmental sustainability goals.

Economic and Social Impact

The FPSO P 78 project plays a crucial role in the South American oil and gas market through increased oil production and the creation of job opportunities. The project conducts significant work in Brazilian shipyards, fostering local workforce development and skills enhancement. 

 

Petrobras and its partners prioritize community engagement and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, including community development programs and environmental conservation efforts.

Future Prospects and Expansion Plans

The prospects and expansion plans for the P78 FPSO project extend beyond its initial deployment. It's part of a broader strategy to develop additional FPSO platforms, namely P-79 and P-80, within the Búzios field.
 

The four FPSO projects under construction are Almirante Barroso, Almirante Tamandaré, P-78, and P-79. These FPSOs will enhance oil and gas production capacity, with FPSO Almirante Barroso expected to start production in 2023 and FPSO Almirante Tamandaré in the second half of 2024. FPSOs P-78 and P-79 will commence production in 2025, followed by Petrobras FPSO P-80 in the first half of 2026. These projects prioritize environmental sustainability with carbon capture and reinjection technologies to minimize emissions and reduce gas flaring.

Conclusion

The P78 FPSO project is an excellent initiative by Petrobras Brazil's national oil company, designed to enhance oil and gas production in the Búzios field. It involves critical stakeholders such as Keppel O&M, HHI, and Siemens Energy and incorporates advanced technologies and sustainable practices.
 

The project is vital for Brazil's energy independence, economic growth, and technological advancement in the oil and gas industry. The P78 FPSO project boosts the FPSO market, with promising prospects for future expansion and long-term benefits for Brazil's energy sector.

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