Petrobras is transporting the hull of the P-66, the first platform in a series of eight “replicant” FPSO units being constructed to meet oil production demands in Brazil. This is the first FPSO hull completely built in the country, according to a Petrobras press release.

Having left the Rio Grande 1 shipyard, located in the city of Rio Grande, state of Rio Grande do Sul, the first replicant hull is now on its way to the Brasfels shipyard, in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, where it is expected to arrive on Dec. 18. At Brasfels, the modules will be installed on the hull, and equipment and systems will be integrated, interconnected and tested, according to the release.

P-66 will be deployed in the Lula Field on the Lula South module in the presalt layer of the Santos Basin, which is operated by Petrobras (65%) in partnership with BG E&P Brasil (25%) and Petrogal Brasil (10%).

The hull is 54 m (177 ft) in width, 31.5 m (103 ft) in depth from the centerline to the full height of the hull, has a maximum draft of 23.1 m (75.8 ft) and has a total weight of 353,000 metric tons. Once complete, the FPSO unit will be moored at a water depth of 2,200 m (7,218 ft), have a total length of 288 m (945 ft), have living quarters for 110 people and be capable of storing 1.67 MMbbl of oil, according to the release. In addition, the FPSO unit will be capable of processing 150 Mbbl/d of oil and 6 MMcm/d (212 MMcf/d) of gas and will have four MW turbo-generators.