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The Cidade do Rio de Janeiro FPSO goes online
The Cidade do Rio de Janeiro vessel-platform will be capable of lifting up to 100,000 barrels of oil and 2.5 million cubic meters of gas per day. Installed at a water depth of 1,350 meters, the new platform can store 1.6 million barrels of oil.
The Cidade do Rio de Janeiro is an FPSO (floating, production, storage, and offloading) unit that is 320 meters long, 54 meters wide, and 30 meters tall, corresponding to a 10-story building. The new platform is expected to reach its full production capacity during 2007. When operating at full load, it will be connected to nine underwater wells, five of which for oil and natural gas production while the other four are used for water injection.
The FPSO has several technological innovations onboard, among which a new oil-pumping system developed by the Petrobras Research Center (Cenpes). The underwater centrifuge pumping system, also known as S-BCSS, assists in lifting the oil from the field to the platform. The great advantage, compared to the traditional systems, is that it is installed externally to the well, on the sea floor, expediting pump maintenance and replacement. This technology will slash operating costs, facilitate remote intervention in the connected wells, and do away with completion rig use, one of the most expensive equipment to lease in the international market.
Contracted from MODEC International LCC, the Cidade do Rio de Janeiro FPSO will make a significant contribution to maintaining Brazilian oil self-sufficiency.
http: //www.petrobras.com.br/ri/english
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A PETROBRAS
Investor Relations Department
Raul Adalberto de Campos Executive Manager
E-mail: petroinvest@petrobras.com.br
Av. República do Chile, 65 - 22nd floor
20031-912 Rio de Janeiro, RJ
(55-21) 3224-1510 / 9947 |
PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A--PETROBRAS |
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By: |
/S/ Almir Guilherme Barbassa
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Almir Guilherme Barbassa
Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer |
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates offuture economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually oc cur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.