US contractor lands prized engineering deals from Seatrium for huge FPSO topsides

Houston-based KBR has secured key engineering deals from Singapore’s Seatrium to develop the topsides for two new floating production storage and offloading vessels destined for Petrobras’ Atapu and Sepia fields in the Santos basin, offshore Brazil.

KBR will provide Seatrium with “detailed engineering services and technical engineering procurement support for the topsides of P-84 and P-85 FPSOs, which are part of Petrobras’ new generation of FPSO platforms,” the US contractor said in a statement on Thursday.

Each vessel is designed to handle 225,000 barrels per day of oil and manage 10 million cubic metres of gas per day, including compression, treatment, and reinjection, it noted.

Aligning with Petrobras’ all-electric concept, the FPSO design emphasizes efficient power generation and optimized process plants to enhance energy efficiency.

Jay Ibrahim, the president of KBR's sustainable technology solutions said the deals would strengthen the company's partnership and shared commitment with Seatrium.

“KBR will ensure that these units are developed with a strong focus on enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability, thereby contributing to the industry’s transition toward a more sustainable future,” Ibrahim added.

The ABS-classed FPSOs will incorporate advanced technologies to reduce environmental impact, such as zero routine flaring and venting, variable speed drives, and carbon dioxide capture measures, aiming to lower greenhouse gas emissions, KBR stated.

Seatrium earlier contracted Chinese yard CIMC Raffles to build the hulls and living quarters for the P-84 and P-85 FPSOs.

In May, Petrobras awarded Seatrium an S$11 billion (US$8.15 billion) engineering, procurement and construction contract for the twin floaters.

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025, with completion projected for 2029.