32 Rolls-Royce RB211 will be supplied as part of $ 651m Petrobras contract

One of the first Petrobras FPSO vessels to use Rolls-Royce gas turbines, the P-43 Barracuda, produced its first oil in December 2004 offshore in the Campos Basin. Its sister vessel the P48 Caratinga passed a similar milestone in February 2005.

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has been awarded new contracts with a potential value of $651 million by Petrobras to support its production activities offshore Brazil.

Rolls-Royce will supply Petrobras with thirty two RB211 gas turbine power generation packages, including waste-heat recovery units, to meet the power generation requirements of eight separate Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. The FPSOs, used for the processing of hydrocarbons and storage of oil, will operate in the petroleum rich Lula (formerly Tupi) and Guará oilfields, located in the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin off the coast of Brazil.

The new gas turbine power generation packages will be delivered in groups of four, with the first units scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2013. To ensure that the FPSO vessels operate at peak performance levels, Rolls-Royce will also provide Petrobras with long-term services, technical support and training.

Andrew Heath, President – Energy, Rolls-Royce said: “We are committed to supporting all our customers in the country with reliable, technology solutions and a strong localized presence.”

Francisco Itzaina, Regional Director – South America, Rolls-Royce said: “We will further develop our local supply chain to provide critical components required for our gas turbine power generation equipment.”

The latest contract award increases the number of Rolls-Royce RB211-powered industrial gas turbine units installed in Brazil over the last 10 years to 62. The total amount of energy generated by these units is equivalent to 1.8 gigawatts, enough to supply energy to over seven million people.