Japan's NYK has clinched a 22.5-year charter to operate an FPSO for Brazil's Petrobras
NYK has formed a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corp and Dutch FPSO owner SBM Offshore to provide the unit, which will operate in the Mero oil field. No financial details were given.
SBM will have 64.5% of the owning company, with Mitsubishi on 20% and NYK with 15.5%.
For the first time, NYK will provide personnel to participate in the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) phase of the FPSO.
This will "expand the company’s specialised skills in the new field," it said.
NYK will also be involved in the operation of the unit, as is the case with the three FPSO projects it is already involved in with Petrobras.
After construction of the hull and installation of topside modules, the unit will be named FPSO Sepetiba.
Delivery is expected in 2022, but NYK did not specify a shipyard.
The unit will have oil production capacity of 180,000 barrels per day.
Gas production capacity will be 12m cbm per day.
The FPSO will be able to store 1.4m barrels of oil.
Mero is located 180 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in waters 2,000 metres deep.
