Three FPSOs currently being converted in Chinese shipyards and all destined for Brazil to work on the Iracema North, Lula Alto and Lula Central areas are all due to start producing between 2015 and the first half of 2016, according to Galp.

The Portuguese player also reports that work on six other ‘replicant’ floating production units is on schedule and that in early April the first of these, the P-66, left dry dock at Brazil’s Rio Grande shipyard. This is the first of the six replicant FPSOs destined for block BM-S-11 and – once that first unit left the dry dock – the next on the conveyor belt, the P-67 (still under construction in China), was due to be moved into the dock. Each unit will be equipped to produce up to 150 MMb/d of oil and 6 MMcf/d of gas.

Reporting on further FPSO developments off Brazil, Galp said topsides installation is underway for the FPSO Cidade de Mangaratiba – designated FPSO-3 – at Brazil’s Brasfels shipyard, with 90% now completed. This unit is due to start operating on the Iracema South field area in the fourth quarter of this year. Out of 16 wells planned for Iracema South, nine have now been completed and a tenth well is underway.