The Brazilian state-owned oil giant Petrobras started production from the FPSO Cidade de Saquarema in the offshore field Lula in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin. The operations at BM-S-11 block formally commenced on July 8, but yesterday was confirmed after achieving first oil and completed a 72-hour continuous production test, leading to Final Acceptance of the floating production facility. The first well in the block, 8-LL-81D-RJS, stabilized at rate of 30,000 bpd. The oil field is operated by BM-S-11 consortium, including Petrobras with 65% share and partnership with BG E&P Brasil (25%) and Petrogal Brasil (10%).

The FSPO Cidade de Saquarema is capable of processing 150,000 bbl, compressing up to 6 MMcm/d of natural gas, and is currently at 2120 m water depth. The FPSO is owned by consortium of SBM Offshore (56%) with partnership of Mitsubishi Corporation, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha and Queiroz Galvao Oleo e Gas. The vessel was chartered by Petrobras for 20 years and will operate at BM-S-11 block in offshore field Lula. The ship was converted from VLCC to FPSO at Chinese CXG shipyard in end of May and currently commences its first contract. Nine of the modules of FSPO Cidade de Saquarema were manufactured in Brazil, where work was also completed to integrate them with the processing plant.

FSPO Cidade de Saquarema (IMO: 9179608) has overall length of 321.00 m, moulded beam of 58.00 m and maximum draft of 15.00 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 308,491 DWT and the gross tonnage is 159,187 GRT. FSPO Cidade de Saquarema has storage capacity for 1,600,000 bbls and process capacity of 150,000 bpd.

The Central Lula field is located in the Santos Basin, off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Lula Central project scope includes 18 wells, nine production and nine injection wells. Petrobras has its sights set to achieve its annual target of 2.145 MMb/d in Brazil for the year.