Petrobras plans to decommission 68 platforms and reuse three FPSOs

Brazilian state-owned giant Petrobras has revealed it will decommission almost 70 offshore platforms and FPSOs, three of which it has already decided to repurpose.

Petrobras said that it is planning on decommissioning 68 platforms, two this year and a total of ten by 2029. The remaining 58 will be removed after that.

This is according to a statement made by Petrobras’ general manager of decommissioning projects, Carlos Castilho. He added that Petrobras works with around 70 shipyards in Brazil to recycle its platforms and FPSOs.

Of the first batch of 10 decommissioning projects, Petrobras stated that at least three platforms will be refurbished and reused.

The P-35, P-37, and P-47 FPSOs, all previously installed in the Marlim field, were initially supposed to be dismantled. However, the units will now be modernised and reused. The first of the three units to be reused will be the P-37, followed by the P-35.

The three FPSOs worked on the Marlim field until the Anna Nery and Anita Garibaldi were added as part of the Marlim and Voador revitalisation project. The two will extend production from the fields until 2048. The FPSO duo also replaced nine platforms – the P-18, P-19, P-20, P-26, P-32, P-33, P-35, P-37, and P-47.

The shipyard employers’ union Sinaval, and the Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute are working together with Petrobras to establish which units can be modernised for further use. Results of this collaboration are expected by the end of July.