Petrobras starts third well at Santos basin’s Sapinhoá field

Petrobras has announced the start-up of well 7-SPH-04-SPS, at a water depth of 2,120 m, in Sapinhoá field, in the Santos basin pre-salt region. This well has an estimated production potential of 26,000 bpd and is interconnected to the FPSO Cidade de São Paulo through the platform connecting system known as BSR (Buoyancy Supported Risers).

This is the third production well of the Sapinhoá Pilot Project and the second to go in operation through the BSR gathering system, following the start-up of well SPS-77A, which has been producing approximately 36,000 bpd since February 18, 2014.

FPSO Cidade de São Paulo has the capacity to process up to 120,000 bpd and has been in operation since January 5, 2013, when it was directly interconnected to well SPS-55. The fourth production well of the project will be interconnected early in the second half of the year. With the start-up of this well, the platform will reach its full output capacity.

Besides the first buoy already installed in Sapinhoá field, three other similar systems have been commissioned for installation in Santos basin pre-salt fields. Of these three, one more will be destined for Sapinhoá field (Sapinhoá Pilot Project - FPSO Cidade de São Paulo) and the other two for Lula field (Lula Nordeste Pilot Project - FPSO Cidade de Paraty). FPSO Cidade de Paraty, with the capacity to process up to 120,000 bpd, went into operation on June 6, 2013, when it was directly interconnected to the output of well LL-11.

Installation of the second buoy, destined for Lula field, was completed in February in less than a third of the time it took to install the first one, due to improvements made to installation processes. Then, on March 9, installation of the rigid steel pipelines to gather the output from two NE Lula wells, through the buoy, was completed.

At this time, installation is underway of the flexible pipelines of well 7-LL-22D-RJS, the first production well to be connected to the Lula NE buoy. This well will go in operation this quarter. Then, two other wells will be interconnected and FPSO Cidade de Paraty will reach its full output capacity in the third quarter of this year.

Two other buoys will be installed in the first half of the year

Operations to interconnect the third buoy in Sapinhoá field are ahead of schedule. The buoy is already submerged and attached to its foundations. Installation work will be completed this quarter.

The fourth and last buoy, designed for Lula field, is already on site and is currently in the initial installation phase, according to schedule. Installation is also expected to be completed this quarter.

Sapinhoá field is operated by Petrobras (45%), in partnership with BG E&P Brasil Ltda (30%) and Repsol Sinopec Brasil S.A. (25%).

Lula field is operated by Petrobras (65%), in partnership with BG E&P Brasil Ltda (25%) and Petrogal Brasil S.A. (10%).

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