The FPSO Bacalhau has officially begun production in the Santos Basin pre-salt, marking a major step in Brazil’s offshore development. Operated by Equinor in partnership with ExxonMobil and Petrogal, the unit is among the most advanced ever deployed in the country, a 370-meter-long and 64-meter-wide floating production system with capacity to process 220,000 barrels of oil per day and store up to 2 million barrels.
Production started on October 15, 2025, at the Bacalhau field, located about 185 km off the coast of Ilhabela (São Paulo), in water depths exceeding 2,000 meters. The first phase includes 19 wells that will be gradually brought online during the ramp-up period.
The field’s recoverable reserves exceed 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe), making it one of the largest deepwater projects under development outside Petrobras’ direct operation. The FPSO, supplied and operated initially by MODEC, integrates combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT) and advanced CO₂-abatement systems designed to keep carbon intensity around 9 kg per boe.
Ownership is distributed among Equinor (40%, operator), ExxonMobil Brasil (40%), and Petrogal Brasil (20%), with PPSA overseeing production sharing over its expected 30-year lifetime.
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