Petrobras has started production from the P-63 FPSO on the deepwater Papa Terra field in the southern Campos Basin initially via well PPT-12.

The FPSO is located in a water depth of 1,200 m (3,937 ft) and has the capacity to process 140,000 b/d of oil, compress 1,000,000m3 of gas and inject 340,000 b/d of water. The floater is of course just one of many Petrobras production projects to have come or still planned to come onstream this year and next.

With reservoirs containing heavy oil of 14-17 degrees API and the deepwater location, Papa Terra has been one of the most challenging projects ever undertaken by Petrobras, according to the operator.

Besides the P-63, which will eventually be connected to five production and 11 injection wells, the P-61 Tension Leg Wellhead Platform (TLWP) designed and built by FloaTEC will also operate on the field, connected to 13 production wells. It is Brazil’s first ever TLWP and will be towed to its final location before the end of November.

Wells will be connected to the P-63 using flexible subsea pipes with electric heating (Integrated Production Bundles), while the P-61 will be connected to dry trees. All 18 production wells will be fitted with submersible centrifugal pumps, with output from P-61 to be transferred by multiphase flow to the P-63.

The P-61 will also be equipped with a Tender Assisted Drilling (TAD) support rig, which was due to be towed from China as DI went to press.

Petrobras is the operator of Papa Terra with a 62.5% stake, with partner Chevron holding the remaining 37.5%.