Project Overview

The Maria Quitéria FPSO is a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel deployed in the Jubarte Field, North Campos Basin, offshore Brazil. Operated by Yinson Production for Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro SA) , this FPSO is designed to improve production efficiency and ensure sustained output over the long term.

The FPSO Maria Quiteria is one of the largest FPSO projects in Brazil, with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and a storage capacity of 1,000,000 barrels. This project, valued at approximately USD 5.2 billion, is part of a long-term charter agreement extending until 2047.

FPSO Maria Quitéria Location

The FPSO Maria Quitéria is located in the Jubarte Field, part of the Parque das Baleias area in the North Campos Basin, offshore Brazil. It operates in the pre-salt layer off Espírito Santo’s coast, a region known for its abundant oil reserves. The FPSO is moored at a water depth of 1,385 meters and positioned approximately 80 kilometers off the Brazilian coast.

Background of Maria Quitéria FPSO Project

The Jubarte Field, discovered in January 2001, was a breakthrough in Brazil's offshore exploration. However, its heavy oil with 17° API gravity and high viscosity posed significant production challenges. Petrobras implemented a phased development strategy focused on innovative extraction and processing technologies to address these.

The development began with a pilot production phase using FPSO Seillean, which gathered critical data for optimizing production techniques. This was followed by Phase I, which introduced FPSO P-34 (FPSO JK) with a processing capacity of 60,000 barrels per day. Phase II brought in FPSO P-57, further enhancing output from the field.

Parque das Baleias Integrated Project

The Parque das Baleias area consists of six key fields: Jubarte, Baleia Anã, Cachalote, Caxaréu, Pirambú, and Mangangá. The Jubarte Field, discovered in 2001, was the first in the region and remains a central asset in Brazil’s offshore oil production.

In 2019, Petrobras and the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP) signed an agreement to extend the Jubarte Field concession until 2056. The new unified Jubarte field enabled the development of the FPSO Maria Quitéria, the latest production system within the Parque das Baleias Integrated Project, alongside other complementary projects.

Currently, three other floating production storage vessels operate in Parque das Baleias: P-57, P-58, and FPSO Cidade de Anchieta. Once the vessel reaches full production, it will account for around 40% of the total output from the Jubarte Field.

Design and Engineering Details

Here are the design and engineering details of the Maria Quitéria FPSO Project:

General & Dimensional Specifications

Production & Offloading Capacity

Power & Sustainability Features

Project Cost and Financing Details

The project cost of FPSO Maria Quitéria is valued at USD 5.2 billion. The total capital expenditure for the project is estimated at USD 950 million, covering construction, deployment, and operational setup.

To finance this ambitious project, Yinson Production, the FPSO’s owner and operator, secured multiple funding sources:

• In 2022, Yinson secured a USD 720 million six-year syndicated loan to fund the construction of the vessel.

• To support its equity portion of the investment, Yinson obtained a USD 230 million term loan from a Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)-led consortium.

Contractors Involved

Project Timeline

Current Status of FPSO Maria Quitéria

As of March 2025, the FPSO Maria Quitéria is fully operational and achieved its first oil on October 15, 2024.  This milestone marked the beginning of its 22.5-year firm charter under Petrobras. Following the first oil, the unit completed a 72-hour test, confirming its readiness for sustained production.

Future Prospects and Strategic Significance

The FPSO Maria Quitéria project is set to play a long-term strategic role in Petrobras's offshore production plans, with its 22.5-year charter agreement extending until 2047. As a key asset in the pre-salt Campos Basin, the FPSO is critical to Petrobras's goal of increasing production from these prolific reserves. It is part of the company’s broader initiative to deploy 11 new production platforms in Brazil’s pre-salt region by 2027 to expand exploration and production (E&P) activities under its Strategic Plan for 2023–2027.

Beyond production, the FPSO vessel supports global emissions reduction and Petrobras’s decarbonization efforts. Equipped with advanced emission-reducing technologies such as heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) and closed flare systems, the FPSO aligns with Petrobras's USD 11.5 billion decarbonization investment under its 2024–2028 Strategic Plan. 

Conclusion

The FPSO Maria Quitéria is a major milestone in Brazil’s FPSO industry, marking a successful and early operational start along with Yinson's FPSO Atlanta. The FPSO project will be pivotal in the Jubarte field’s output and Petrobras’s broader offshore strategy with its advanced technology, substantial production capacity, and long-term charter. Operations of the Maria quitéria platform ship are fully aligned with an evolving zero-emission strategy. As operations progress, ongoing performance assessments will provide deeper insights into its production efficiency and environmental impact.

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