Consortium is planning one of the largest floating oil units in the world
Around 100 professionals from Cenpes (Petrobras Research Center) and from engineering companies – Brazilian companies Chemtech and Kromav, and Norwegian company Aker Kvaerner, through its Brazilian division, Aker Kvaerner Engineering & Technology Brazil – are joined in a pioneer enterprise for the design of a basic project (FEED – Front End Engineering Design) of one of the world largest floating units for oil production, storage, processing, and overflow units (FPSO), the P-57. This enterprise will provide the documentation for the technical support for the invitation to bid that will define the actual builders.
The project started last February, but was intensified in June, when the Chemtech/Aker/Kromav consortium won the tender bid from other four companies to help in the project.
This is the first time that Cenpes works in a task-force scheme in an enterprise of such importance and with a team allocated in another company. Project designers and engineers from the three consortium companies and from Cenpes are developing this basic project cycle and the classification of Chemtech facilities (state of Rio de Janeiro). The project has another unprecedented feature: the design is being conducted with nearly 100% of national engineering work-force.
“We intend to use this project to value national engineering and show that our qualified professionals are equivalent to foreign ones. This is the first project entirely developed in here and with Brazilian work-force”, declared Marcos Assayag, basic engineering general manager at Cenpes.
There is a forecast of using 110 thousand m/h (man/hour) in this P-57 project; 51% of the planned tasks have already been concluded, the final conclusion being foreseen for January 31, 2006, when this fundamental activity for the building of the platform will be ready. The platform will process heavy oil in a process plant for 180 thousand bpd (barrels per day). Such capacity will rank P-57 as the largest heavy oil floating unit in the world and will serve as model for several similar applications.
“This basic pioneer project – using methods, processes and patterns compatible with offshore technology for deep-water oil and gas production and exploration in Brazil –, besides meeting Petrobras and international market requirements, uses creativity and state-of-the-art technology. One is employing qualified off-shore engineering work-force and the latest software, some of which have been developed by Brazilians for the national industry. This qualifies Brazil within the knowledge area and generates technology”, stated Rosalvo Sales Jr, Kromav partner-board member.
For Roberto Goulart, P-57 basic project coordinator and senior consultant at Petrobras, “this manner of working brings technical gains since it integrates experiences from the different companies, and unites agility to meet established deadlines”.
Aker Kvaerner, for example, has been operating in Brazil for 30 years and points out the advantages of this project. “We are building a sustainable business in Brazil, and are at the same time bringing our best activities and experience in oil & gas from all over the world”, highlighted Stig Botker.
Chemtech CEO, Luiz Eduardo Ganem Rubião, sees this project as a great challenge because of its dimensions. “Basic project work has been Chemtech’s core business since it was founded in 1989. However, this time the technical challenge is bigger and I’m sure the experience will be worthwhile”.
About Petrobras
Founded in October 1953, Petrobras ( www.petrobras.com.br ) operates in the exploration, production, refining, commercialization, and transportation of oil and its byproducts both in Brazil and abroad. Petrobras has nearly 90 production platforms, more than ten refineries, nearly 16 thousand kilometers of pipelines, and over seven thousand fuel stations, throughout Brazil and in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, the United States, Nigeria, and Japan. The Company operates with four business areas – E&P (Exploration and Production), Supply, Gas & Energy, and International –, two support areas – Financial and Services – and the corporate units directly linked to the Chairman. Within the services area is Cenpes, Petrobras research center, with some of the most advanced technologies in the world in the oil & gas segment, internationally recognized for its high competence, especially in activities concerning deep-water production, product refining and development, such as gasoline for Formula 1 cars and diesel for Amyr Klink’s expedition to Antarctica.
About Chemtech
Chemtech ( www.chemtech.com.br ) was founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1989 by three chemical engineers who graduated from IME (Military Engineering Institute). Chemtech is specialized in services and IT solutions for process industries (oil & gas, petrochemical and chemical, metals and mining, paper & pulp, food and beverage). In March 2001, it became part of the Siemens group and it is now inserted in the I&P (Industry and Plants) division of the group’s I&S (Industrial Solutions and Services). Since this agreement, Chemtech has been interacting with other Siemens divisions, providing customers with even more complete and sophisticated solutions.
Among Chemtech customers are Petrobras, Ambev, Nestlé, Monsanto, ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco, Shell, and ChevronTexaco. It also works with the ten largest chemical and petrochemical companies, the five largest paper companies, the four largest mining companies, three of the five largest steel companies, and four of the six largest consumer-product industries in Brazil, according to the Exame magazine ranking.
Because Chemtech believes in the importance of constant training and improvement of its team, it was chosen by the Guia Exame – Você S/A in 2004 as one of the 150 best companies in Brazil to work in and one of the nine best in Rio de Janeiro. In 2005, it was again ranked among the 150 best, also according to the Guia.
About Aker Kvaerner
Aker Kværner ASA ( www.akerkvaerner.com ) is a world leader in the delivery of engineering and construction services, technological products, and integrated solutions. The Aker Kvaerner business comprehends several industries, including oil & gas, refining & chemistry, pharmaceutics & biotechnology, metals & mining, energy generation, and paper & pulp. The Aker Kvaerner group consists of a number of legally separated entities. Aker Kværner is used as the common trademark by all these entities. The parent company of the group is Aker Kværner ASA. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated an annual revenue of around NOK 35.6 billion, and employs approximately 21,000 people in over 30 countries in Europe, South America, North America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
About Kromav
Kromav ( www.kromav.com.br ) has its head-office in Rio de Janeiro. It is a naval engineering and off-shore project and services company, certified by ISO 9001-2000. It was founded in October 1996 from a core of engineers coming from ex-Ishibras (Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries do Brasil), and it gathers a highly qualified technical body, with over 20 years of experience in integrated work in oil & gas. They have participated in the largest projects of oil-tankers and miner-tankers and the only FSO entirely built in Brazil. Kromav delivers services in basic engineering and project detailing and ship building, general support vessels, off-shore units (FPSO, FSO, platforms, etc), and metal structures, as well as PDS projects.
