Petrobras awards Rolls-Royce US$651m gas turbine-based power packages

Global power systems company Rolls-Royce has been awarded new contracts with a potential value of US$651m by Brazil’s oil and gas exploration giant Petrobras to support its production activities offshore Brazil.

Rolls-Royce will supply Petrobras with 32 RB211 gas turbine power generation packages, including waste-heat recovery units, to meet the power generation requirements of 8 separate Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. The FPSOs, used for the processing of hydrocarbons and storage of oil, will operate in the petroleum rich Lula (formerly Tupi) and Guará oilfields, located in the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin off the coast of Brazil.

The new gas turbine power generation packages will be delivered in groups of four, with the first units scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2013. Four gas turbine generating sets will be installed on each of the eight FPSO’s. To ensure that the FPSO vessels operate at peak performance levels, Rolls-Royce will also provide Petrobras with long-term services, technical support and training.

Andrew Heath, president of Rolls-Royce’s Energy division, said: “We are delighted that Petrobras has again selected Rolls-Royce power generation technology to help meet its aggressive offshore oil and gas production objectives. Rolls-Royce has a strong record of equipment and services supply to Brazil’s energy sector and we are committed to supporting all our customers in the country with reliable, technology solutions and a strong localised presence.”

In February Rolls-Royce announced plans for the construction of a new $100 million purpose-built gas turbine assembly and test facility in Santa Cruz in the state of Rio de Janeiro which is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2013. Equipment from these contract awards, scheduled for installation in the Lula (Tupi) and Guará oilfields, will be among the first units to be assembled and tested at the new Rolls-Royce facility.