Prysmian to provide best-in-class Steel Tube Umbilicals to the Libra Mero Project, first development in Brazil to require steel tubes

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, has been awarded a contract by Libra, a consortium of prime international oil & gas operators, for Steel Tube Umbilicals to be installed in the Mero offshore oilfield. The Libra Consortium is led by Petrobras – with a 40% interest – in partnership with Shell Brasil (20%), Total (20%), CNPC (10%) and CNOOC Ltd. (10%). The consortium also has the participation of the state-owned company Pré-Sal Petróleo SA (PPSA) as manager of the Production Sharing Agreement.

More specifically the award refers to Mero 1, an ultra-deep-water project, which will consist of up to 17 wells and one FPSO, situated approximately 180 km offshore Rio de Janeiro in the pre-salt area of the Santos basin at a water depth of approximately 2,000 m below sea level with oil production due to commence in 2021.

The Mero 1 project is a true milestone in the technological development of the Oil & Gas industry in Brazil, as it is the first project in the region to use Steel Tube Umbilicals.

The contract includes the supply of approximately 60 km of Steel Tube Umbilicals consisting of 9 and 12 functions 1/2“ diameter 10kpsi super duplex steel tubes that will be manufactured in the Group’s production unit in Vila Velha.

These achievements mark the transition of the Group from the traditional Thermoplastic technology used so far and are the successful result of more than a decade of experience in end-to-end production of deep water subsea umbilicals, unrivalled manufacturing and testing assets, relentless efforts of highly qualified resources and high-end design capabilities to deliver best-in-class solutions for deep water conditions and well service operations.