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Did you know that the hobbyhorse was once used on offshore platforms?
The incredible record of an offshore hobbyhorse in Bahia, in 1968, shared by Marcelo Gauto (Manager at Petrobras) through a retired former colleague, takes us back to the early days of offshore oil production in Brazil. Although this technology is typical of onshore fields, its application in the ocean was an initial attempt to adapt what we already knew.
At the beginning of offshore exploration, the solution was to improvise with existing resources. As wells moved away from the coast and into deeper waters, the need for new technologies became evident. It was in this scenario that revolutionary innovations emerged, culminating in challenges such as the pre-salt: wells at 5 thousand meters of depth, crossing thick layers of salt, in waters that exceed 2 thousand meters.
This effort did not happen overnight. Decades of study and development were necessary to transform Brazil into an offshore production powerhouse. What did you think of this curiosity about our roots in maritime exploration?
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A little more about the hobbyhorse
The “hobby horse”, or Mechanical Pumping Unit (UBM), is a technology traditionally used in onshore fields for oil extraction. However, historical records indicate that, in the early days of offshore exploration in Brazil, especially in Bahia during the 1960s, there were attempts to adapt this technology for use on offshore platforms.
These initiatives represented the first efforts by the Brazilian oil industry to transfer terrestrial technologies to the offshore environment. As the movement into deeper waters began, the need to develop specific solutions for the unique challenges of the offshore environment became evident. This culminated in innovations that allowed wells to be drilled at depths of up to 5 meters, piercing layers of salt and operating in blades water depths greater than 2 thousand meters.
The evolution of offshore production in Brazil is the result of decades of research, technological development and dedication, consolidating the country as a world reference in deep-water oil exploration.
To see an example of a “hobbyhorse” in operation, check out the video below:
This field is Dom João in All Saints Bay. It cannot be called offshore. It is an onshore field that extends out to sea with a water depth of just a few meters.
There is a saying that goes: We climb a ladder with steps placed by others. It was this simple initiative that propelled our country to explore the sea and to become one of the 7 largest producers in the world.