Petrobras awards offshore vessel contract to UK subsea company

Petrobras has chosen Subsea 7 S.A, a UK based subsea engineering, construction and services contractor, to supply a pipe lay support vessel (PLSV) as the Brazilian oil company looks to step up its E&P programme in the pre-salt basin.

The PLSV Kommandor 3000 is a construction/flexlay vessel with a purpose built pipe-lay system to install flexible lines, umbilicals and equipment in up to 2,000 metres water depth and with a top tension capacity of 150 tonnes.

The contract, which is worth in excess of U$350 million, will see Subsea 7 S.A. oversee and manage the installation of Petrobras supplied flexible lines and equipment on a day rate basis for five years.

Victor Bomfim, Senior Vice President for Brazil, Subsea 7 S.A., said: “Subsea 7 has one of the most advanced vessel fleets in the world for subsea engineering and construction, and we look forward to supporting Petrobras in future developments.”

Kommandor 3000 will start operations under the contract in 2013 with the vessel due to spend 90 days during the year in dry-dock for maintenance.