Petrobras has awarded DOF a contract extension for AHTS Skandi Amazonas. The Norwegian vessel owner announced that the vessel shall remain in operation for the Brazilian national oil company until March 2023. The 21000bhp AHTS, built 2011, is currently flying Brazilian flag and has a 324 ton bollard pull capacity.
This week Equinor reached out to the market seeking an OSRV to cover the dry-docking of a vessel from its own offshore support fleet. In case of interest, owners must provide a DP2 vessel with 1050m3 oil recovery capacity, ORO class notation and valid OVID. Commencement is prompt.
Also this week Petrobras issued a tender to charter up to four OSRVs. Owners are granted 120 days to mobilize the vessel with charter commencement scheduled for October 2023. Contract period is of 1460 days firm. As to the technical requirements, no major changes compared to previous similar tenders from Petrobras. The Brazilian oil major requires a DP1 vessel, built 1997 onwards and with 750m3 oil rec capacity. Owners have until November 17th to submit their offer.
Petrobras released this week a tender for the chartering of up to two 150 tons AHTS TS/TO type for four years firm. The units will be engaged on both towing and pull back operation in addition to offloading systems maintenance. Among the technical specification one item draws our attention: “Battery (Safety) – DNVGL” or “Electric Hybrid – BV” class certified. This is the first time Petrobras actually requests a hybrid vessel in a tender and according to WSB sources the only AHTS fitted with such battery today is the Maersk Minder operating on in the Norwegian and UK North Sea sector. According to local Owners, lead time for having a Battery Pack installed is delivery in 2024. The problem is, Petrobras established the start of operation between July and September 2023 leaving players in a tough situation with no choice other than appeal through the Petrobras clarification process.
Petrobras will shortly take delivery of two PSV dry-bulk carriers, Asso Ventisei and Saveiros Fragata chartered in one of the Oil Major’s opportunities for DWT 3000 PSVs issued last year. Both vessels are going through final preparations for onhire and shall soon engage in operations. After a long wait of over 4 years for a tender of this type, these contracts mark the return of this once popular category of vessel back into Petrobras’ fleet. The hiring of not only dry-bulk carriers but also other types of PSVs such as Hybrid and Multipurpose, were all mainly driven by the increasing drilling activity by Petrobras in recent years.
RSVs Skandi Chieftain and Skandi Olympia have been granted an extension by Petrobras until the end of 2022 while RSV Skandi Commander is now firm until November 2022. As previously reported in our weekly market update, the three vessels were offered in Petrobras’ RSV tender earlier this year. DOF has confirmed that Skandi Chieftain and Skandi Olympia have been awarded and will commence their contract in direct continuation of present charter. On the other hand, Skandi Commander will be deployed in the PIDF project until August 2023, before starting her new contract with Petrobras which will combine ROV and UAV services. The PIDF scope of work comprises the inspection of flexible pipelines, risers and subsea equipment in the Campos Basin, Santos Basin and Espírito Santo Basin.
Petrobras received this week offers for their PSV 4500 bid, a vessel that will be deployed in the Roncador field (75% Petrobras, 25% Equinor), in what was a very peculiar tendering process. The opportunity, initially released as a public tender, was later cancelled and re-opened as a “SEP” (an invitational tendering process with a pre-approved bidderS list). The intention is to replicate the pattern the Brazilian oil major had adopted for contracting processes in other assets owned by a Consortium (JV) and not just Petrobras, such as the PSV tender for Mero from 2 years ago. Interestingly enough, this time and for the first time, Petrobras opted to have their well-known reverse auction from public tenders implemented into a SEP, although no information was revealed at its closure. Petrobras aims to hire one PSV 4500 Multipurpose (Lot 1), which means any other lot will only be entertained should Petrobras fail to award a suitable candidate from Lot 1. The reverse auction itself was not different from other recent ones, where low vessel availability and a heated market drove daily rates to higher levels, or rather, stopped bidders from lowering too much… four undisclosed Bidders offered 1 vessel each, with the first placed at USD 34.282,00. If you wish to know more about participants and other tender details, please contact WSB.
PetroRio moves on with its revitalization campaign for the Frade field. The Brazilian oil company informed that the production for 7-FR-55H-RJS (MUP3A) well has started with production over 3.500 barrels per day. The well is the second to be initiated in this field and, according to the company, it was executed in 40 days. Ocyan’s semi-submersible NORBE VI is working for PRIO since last year on this revitalization campaign.
PSV 4500 CBO Ipanema has recently been awarded a long term contract with Enauta. She is currently under charter with Petrobras and upon conclusion will go on an adaption period in preparation for its new charter. The vessel will operate in Atlanta field which will soon have its expansion together with the arrival of Yinson’s FPSO Atlanta. CBO Ipanema was originally built for Petrobras’ fleet renewal program (Prorefam) and is concluding its 8 year charter.
Sapura Navegação has recently announced a two years extension of charter and service contract for its pipe laying vessel Sapura Esmeralda by Petrobras. The 300tons lay tower capacity Brazilian flag PLSV has been working for Petrobras since 2016 providing services and charter for the installation and recovery of flexible pipes in water depth of up to 2500m. The extension is in direct continuation of the current contract. Sapura’s pipe laying fleet is composed of another 5 vessels also in long term contract with Petrobras. It is noteworthy that Petrobras has a PLSV tender open for proposals which is expected to be closed on August 19th.
Petrobras has concluded the sale of the producing fields Peroá, Cangoá and the BM-ES-21 concession (Malombe discovery) which are jointly called Peroá cluster to 3R Petroleum Offshore S.A. The Peroá and Cangoá fields are located In shallow waters and have had from January 2022 to June 2022 an average daily production of 572 thousand m3 of non-associated gas. It Is said that the other exploratory block in deep waters where the Malombe discovery is located, shall be connected to the other two gas fields in the future. Earlier this year, 3R Petroleum issued a tender to hire a 150ton bollard pull anchor handler for the period of 5 years to provide supply duties, tanker offloading support, oil spill contingency and ROV services. The tender is still open and no vessel has been awarded.
As it is customary every year in chartering for Petrobras, another OSRV 750 tender has closed this week. However this time, things are looking a little brighter on the Owners’ side. Bidders had the option to offer in 2 lots, based on different mobilization windows. There were 13 vessels offered in Lot A, Bravante’s Viking Thaumas had the most competitive rate after the auction at USD 19.900,00. In lot B, 16 vessels were presented, with Astro Mero in first place at USD 20.150,00. As a consequence of high utilization of Brazilian builts and low availability of tonnage for reflagging purposes, the offshore support market has been picking up, with rates increasing across the board for all kinds of vessels. And it would not be different in this bid. When compared to the last OSRV 750 bid issued by Petrobras in the end of 2021, this represents almost a 30% increase on daily rates. Tender will now proceed to the offer validation phase by Petrobras, but should any hirings be confirmed at or around these levels, it will be the highest OSRV rates chartered by Petrobras since 2016.
AKOFS Offshore AS has signed a contract with Petrobras for its SESV (subsea equipment support vessel) Aker Wayfarer. The duration of the contract is approximately 4 years, and the services will commence in the first half of 2023. AKOFS Offshore will be performing the operations jointly with its partners Bravante for marine services and Oceaneering for ROV services, the exact same structure used for their other recently awarded vessel Skandi Santos.
