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Petrobras has claimed that technology adapted for pre-salt depths and replaces the
use of drillships has cut ocean descent times and saved USD 5m per well
Following engineering studies, some adaptations were made to the SESV Skandi Santos, enabling the vessel to
install equipment at depths of up to 2,300 metres. Source: Aker Solutions
At the end of last year, Petrobras deployed its first wet Christmas tree (equipment installed on a wellhead,
composed of a set of remotely operated valves designed to control the flow of fluids such as oil, water and
natural gas from a reservoir to the surface) using cables in the pre-salt area.
The main change involved was the use of a subsea equipment support vessel (SESV) to install the equipment
rather than a traditional drilling ship.
This resulted in a time saving of approximately 10 days, generating a gain of more than USD 5m. The well on
which the Christmas tree was installed using this technique, called 7-SPH-2D-SP, is located in Sapinho field,
in the pre-salt layer of Santos Basin, at a depth of 2,130 metres.
The operation, which involved lowering the Christmas tree into position and installing it on the wellhead using a
suspended cable, was carried out from an SESV using a subsea equipment guidance system.
This installation technique replaces the use of drilling ships, which are much more expensive to charter. SESVs
have some other major advantages in relation to traditional drilling ships.
For example, using a drilling ship it takes around 10 hours to lower a riser 1,000 metres in the open sea.
Consequently, the time taken to lower a Christmas tree for installation on a well at a water depth of 2,300
metres is 40 hours on average. SESVs, on the other hand, can perform the same manoeuvre in less than four
hours, due to the cable launch and return speed.
Petrobras had already used this technology at depths of up to 2,000 metres. Following engineering studies,
some adaptations were made to the SESV Skandi Santos, enabling the vessel to install equipment at depths of
up to 2,300 metres.
After the success of this first experience, the use of SESVs has now been proven as a viable option for the presalt layer, and this will help reduce operating costs and times. Petrobras has now chartered a second SESV,
which is being adapted for depths of up to 2,500 metres and which should start operating in the second half of
2016.
Sapinho field is operated by Petrobras (45 per cent), in partnership with BG E&P Brasil Ltda (30 per cent) and
Repsol Sinopec Brasil S.A. (25 per cent).