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Petrobras' new vessel, the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão, will soon arrive in the Santos Basin to produce oil in the Mero Field.
O FPSOs Alexandre de Gusmão has arrived in Brazil and is en route to the Mero Field in the Santos Basin. The vessel will undergo a commissioning period before beginning operations, scheduled for late 2025. Petrobras, which leads exploration in the Mero Field, expects a significant increase in production with the entry of this new unit.
The FPSO was built in China by the Cosco Shipping shipyard and delivered to SBM Offshore and Petrobras, which signed a lease and operation agreement in 2021. The vessel is part of Petrobras' plan to expand production in the pre-salt layer and consolidate the Mero Field as one of the country's main oil hubs.
FPSO to expand production in Mero Field
O FPSOs Alexandre de Gusmão will be the fifth unit installed in the Mero Field, joining the Pioneiro de Libra, Guanabara, Sepetiba and Marechal Duque de Caxias. The vessel has the capacity to produce 180 barrels of oil per day and compress 12 million cubic meters of gas daily.
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The arrival of this FPSO at the Mero Field will increase the region's production by 31%, raising total capacity to 770 thousand barrels per day.
This growth strengthens the operations of Petrobras and its partners, consolidating the pre-salt as one of the most strategic areas for oil and gas exploration in Brazil.
The operation of the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão will be fundamental for the development of the Mero Field, which has great productive potential.
Petrobras and its partners hope that the vessel will contribute to optimizing oil and gas extraction and storage processes, ensuring efficiency in operations.
Mero Field: one of the largest fields operated by Petrobras
Campo de Mero was discovered in 2010 and is located approximately 190 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, in waters 2.100 meters deep.
A Petrobras leads the operation with a 38,6% share, in partnership with Shell Brasil, TotalEnergies, CNPC, CNOOC and Pré-Sal Petróleo (PPSA).
In February 2025, the Mero Field reached a production of 500 thousand barrels per day, consolidating itself as the third largest field in Brazil, behind only Tupi and Búzios, both in the Santos Basin.
According to Petrobras, pre-salt currently represents 81% of its total production, reinforcing the importance of this segment for the company's future.
The arrival of the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão reinforces Petrobras' strategy of investing in operations in deep and ultra-deep waters, ensuring greater efficiency in oil and gas exploration.
The vessel will be integrated into existing operations in Campo de Mero, optimizing the infrastructure installed in the region.
Petrobras, the pride of Brazil. Brazil will need oil from the equatorial margin.
A great company where I dedicated 35 years of my life. I was part of the construction of an FPSO in China that currently operates in the pre-salt layer. Unfortunately, we do not receive the recognition we deserve. Many retirees are falling ill and many others are committing suicide due to the absurd discounts in the Petrobras settlement, a debt that is not ours but that we are paying. Many colleagues with zero paychecks are living off of a piggy bank. The Brazilian people need to know the real Petrobras.