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SBM Offshore and Shell form a partnership and announce an unprecedented project in the country. Called SWIR, the project uses cutting-edge technology that could revolutionize the FPSO industry as early as 2024.
Focusing on increasing efficiency in power generation systems on floating oil platforms (FPSOs) in Brazil and reduce carbon emissions on these ships, SBM Offshore and Shell signed a contract for phase 3 of project development Seawater Intake Riser (SWIR), a unique deep waters in Brazil.
SBM Offshore and Shell project will be ready by 2024
The environmentally sustainable solution foresees that the collection of cooling water for these production units will be carried out at a depth of 700m, using large diameter flexible pipes. The expectation is that the new technology will be validated to be incorporated into new FPSOs projects by the end of next year.
Currently, water collection is carried out at around 100m depth in the sea, where temperatures are around 25 ºC. At greater depths temperatures are considerably lower, reaching 7 ºC.
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This makes it possible to achieve efficiency gains and reductions in CO2 emissions in the power generation and cooling processes on floating oil production platforms (FPSOs). The SWIR system will also significantly reduce the energy demand for natural gas dehydration and the energy consumption of the platform vessel's intake pumps.
According to SBM Offshore Project Manager, Caio Bonini, the company is in the final phase of the project, which currently has great importance within the company's portfolio. Completion will allow the implementation of future technologies focused on reducing emissions.
SWIR makes it possible to reduce weight and operational costs of FPSOs
According to the technology manager at SBM Offshore in Brazil, Marcelo Andreotti, this partnership with Shell is seen with great pride and is a reason for celebration, not only for the collaboration with a great partner and client, but also to reinforce its commitment to energy transition and the development of technology and specialized technical staff in the country.
The implementation of SWIR makes it possible to reduce the weight of the processing plant and operational costs, and can be used in various systems in FPSOs such as gas compression, heat integration, water treatment and carbon capture from gas turbine exhaust gases. CO2 reduction can reach 50% in the new generations of FPSOs being designed by SBM Offshore.
Project started in 2018
Eli Gomes, Technology Project Manager at Shell, reveals his confidence in the project and states that everyone is very optimistic about the promising results of the deep water capture system project.
The technology being developed in partnership with SBM Offshore will enable optimization and important improvements in FPSO processing plants and utilities, in addition to contributing to the decarbonization of offshore oil and gas production.
The expectation is that the deep water capture system can guide future generations of floating offshore units (FPSOs) to be implemented in Brazilian basins in the next decade.
The project, which promises to be revolutionary, began in 2018 and uses resources from the Research and Development clause in concession contracts from the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP).
In addition to SBM Offshore and Shell, the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and the University of Brasília (UNB) also participated in the project, carrying out material tests.
