Ten contracts totalling US $4.5 billion have been approved by Petrobras and its partners BG Group and Repsol Sinopec for the construction of the first six topside modules and integration packages for eight replicant FPSOs planned for Brazil’s Santos basin pre-salt blocks.

Petrobras also revealed plans to tender for an additional FPSO chartered vessel with different topside requirements from the replicant units.

The Brazilian major confirmed that, through its Tupi BV and Guará BV affiliates, it had approved the signature of the contracts for the construction of the modules and integration packages. All the FPSOs (floating, production, storage and offloading vessels) are being built in Brazil for projects in blocks BM-S-9 and BM-S-11. The contracts will be signed in the next few days, added the operator.

The successful bidders for the work are: DM Construtora de Obras Ltda./TKK Engenharia Ltda., IESA Oleo e Gas SA, Tome Engenharia SA/Ferrostaal Industrieanlagen GmbH, Keppel FELS do Brasil SA, Jurong do Brasil Prestação de Serviços Ltda. and Mendes Jr Trading Engenharia SA/OSX Construção Naval SA.

The FPSOs are part of the first phase of development agreed by the consortium for the blocks. The two remaining topside modules and integration package contracts for the FPSOs are expected to be awarded within the next 18 months with the same companies.

Six of the eight completed vessels will be allocated to block BM-S-11 and the other two will be allocated to block BM-S-9.

In parallel to this contract award, the BM-S-11 consortia also revealed it will kick off a tender process for at least one additional chartered FPSO, which will be used in areas with different topside requirements from those adopted by the replicant FPSOs.

The Block BM-S-11 consortium is operated by Petrobras (65%), in partnership with BG E&P Brasil Ltda. (25%), and Petrogal Brasil (10%). The Block BM-S-9 consortium is operated by Petrobras (45%), in partnership with BG E&P Brasil Ltda. (30%), and Repsol Sinopec Brasil (25%).

BG Group’s chief executive, Frank Chapman, said: “The approval for these contract awards, along with the tender process for an additional international FPSO, demonstrates the close alignment between partners on the fast-track, first-phase delivery plans for these outstanding resources.”