Prumo Logística and BG Brasil signed today (June 3nd 2015) a contract for oil transshipment services at Açu Port, in São João da Barra (RJ). The agreement means BG will use the specially-designed oil terminal (TOIL) at Açu Port for 20 years to transfer up to 200,000 barrels per day from one ship to another, according to BG production schedule. These cargoes will then be delivered to customers around the world.
Initially, the ship-to-ship operation will transfer the oil from dynamically positioned shuttle tankers (DPST) to conventional Suezmax export vessels. The first operation is scheduled for August 2016.
“With the iron ore handling and our T2-clients operations ramping up since last year, we now are eager to launch a new business driver with our first oil transshipment client. This is another relevant milestone for the Açu Port and an acknowledgment of our work and a world class label for our Port”, said Eduardo Parente, Prumo’s CEO.
“We believe the Açu Port terminal facilities offer a safe and responsible solution with the protection of the marine environment at the forefront of our minds. This is increasingly important as our oil production from the world-class Santos Basin continues to increase significantly”, said Nelson Silva, CEO BG South America.
The TOIL infrastructure allows a safe operation with high uptime, generating efficiency and cost savings for its clients, increasing Brazilian oil competitiveness.
Additionally, it brings together high-level features to provide quality care for all the oil and gas industry in Rio de Janeiro and to advance the industry in the North of the State.
Operation
BG´s transshipment operation will be held at TOIL located at Terminal 1 (T1) within the Açu Port. There are three berths available along a 1.4 km breakwater, two of them will be able to host VLCC export vessels or SuezMax and one of them just SuezMax.
At TOIL, both vessels will be in sheltered area protected by the breakwater. They will be moored at the quay and surrounded by a containment booms. This safe type of transshipment operation will be available throughout the year.
Currently with a channel depth of 20.5 m, TOIL will initially receive Suezmax ships. Until the end of 2017, Prumo will increase the width and depth of the channel to enable the terminal to receive VLCC ships.
The Terminal is licensed to handle up to 1.2 million barrels of oil per day and also includes an onshore area licensed for oil crude storage and treatment (specs and blending). The construction of this oil treatment plant with storage tanks will attract other customers who require storage to consolidate their product prior to sale.
About Açu Port
With 17 km of piers Açu Port is located in São João da Barra, in northern Rio de Janeiro State. Occupying 90 km² the venture is comprised of Terminal 1 (T1 – offshore) and Terminal 2 (T2 – onshore). T1 is dedicated to handling iron ore and oil. Operational since October 2014, T1 has received 15 bulk vessels so far. The terminal can receive vessels such as Panamax and Capesize and is being prepared to receive oil vessels up to Very Large Crude Carrier – VLCC size.
T2 is located around a 6.5 km long, 300 meter wide approach canal with a depth of at least 10 meters along its entire extension, reaching 14.5 meters in its deepest section. T2 will handle project cargo, containers, rocks, bauxite, grains, vehicles, bulk liquids and solids, general cargo and oil. The terminal will also house a dedicated area for the oil and gas E&P support service industry. The first commercial operation occurred at the T2 canal in November 2014. Since then the Terminal has received 5 vessels.
About BG Brasil
BG Brasil is part of BG Group, which operates in the areas of exploration and production of oil and gas and liquefied natural gas in more than 20 countries. In the pre-salt of the Santos Basin BG Brasil has interests in three blocks containing significant large-scale deep water discoveries and is the operator of 10 blocks in the Barreirinhas Basin, in the Equatorial Margin of Maranhão. BG Brasil has been present in Brazil since 1994 and has invested more than US$ 9.5 billion in this country.
