Complete Guide to Petrobras FPSO Projects — Past, Present and Future
By Sigurd Thorvaldsen, Director of Production Services, Tigranix Ventures Pte. Ltd.
Contact: Sigurd.Thorvaldsen@tigranix.com
Petrobras FPSO Projects: An Overview
Petrobras is the world’s largest operator of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading units (FPSOs), with a fleet that continues to grow as Brazil develops its massive offshore pre-salt reserves. These floating platforms are critical for enabling production in ultra-deepwater fields like Búzios, Mero, Sépia and Atapu in the Santos Basin, as well as Campos Basin developments such as Jubarte.
The company’s long-term strategy places Petrobras FPSO Projects at the center of its production growth, with new units being sanctioned, delivered and planned through 2030. This article provides a complete guide to past FPSOs, recent start-ups, and future projects in Petrobras’ pipeline.
The Importance of FPSOs in Brazil’s Pre-Salt
Brazil’s pre-salt reservoirs are among the most prolific in the world, with extremely high productivity and light, sweet crude. Fixed platforms are not practical for such deepwater operations, so Petrobras relies heavily on FPSOs. These floating units handle production, processing, storage and offloading of oil to shuttle tankers, enabling large-scale development in areas located more than 2,000 meters below sea level.
High-capacity FPSOs, often exceeding 180,000 barrels per day of production, are the backbone of Petrobras’ offshore expansion. This makes the company’s FPSO program one of the most closely watched in the global energy industry.
Petrobras FPSO Projects Table
Below is a consolidated table of Petrobras FPSO Projects, covering past, present, and future units.
| Country / Region | Owner Company / JV | FPSO / Field | Status bucket | Target first oil window | Project detail summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil — Santos Basin (Mero / Libra Block) | Libra Consortium: Petrobras (operator) + CNPC + CNOOC + Equinor + Shell | Alexandre de Gusmão (Mero-4) | Sanctioned → Online | 2025 | Large pre-salt FPSO with ~180,000 b/d capacity. Achieved first oil in May 2025, expanding Mero field output. |
| Brazil — Santos Basin (Mero) | Petrobras & partners | Marechal Duque de Caxias — Mero | Past / Current | 2024–2025 | Recently commissioned to boost Mero production. Supports Petrobras’ growth targets in pre-salt. |
| Brazil — Santos Basin (Búzios field) | Petrobras & partners | Almirante Tamandaré (Búzios 7) | Sanctioned → Online | 2025 | One of the largest FPSOs in Brazil (~225,000 b/d). Started production in Feb 2025, strengthening Búzios as Petrobras’ flagship field. |
| Brazil — Santos Basin (Búzios) | Petrobras | Búzios 1–6 fleet | Past / Current | 2017–2024 | Multiple FPSOs already producing in Búzios, forming the core of Petrobras’ pre-salt production system. |
| Brazil — Santos Basin (Sépia) | Petrobras & partners | Sepetiba (Carioca MV30) and expansion units | Past / Sanctioned | 2024–2029 | Sépia field FPSOs include leased units like Carioca MV30 and planned expansions such as Sépia-2. |
| Brazil — Santos Basin (Atapu) | Petrobras & TotalEnergies + partners | Atapu-2 FPSO | Sanctioned / FID | 2029 | Large FPSO sanctioned as Atapu Phase 2, with TotalEnergies and Petrobras as joint operators. |
| Brazil — Campos Basin (Jubarte) | Petrobras | Maria Quitéria — Jubarte | Past / Recent start-up | 2024–2025 | Early delivery FPSO at Jubarte, part of Campos Basin revitalization. |
| Brazil — Santos Basin | Petrobras | P-78, P-79, P-80, P-82, P-83 (P-series) | Sanctioned / Contracted | 2025–2027 | Large FPSOs under Petrobras’ capital plan. Several units contracted, targeting staggered start-ups between 2025–2027. |
| Brazil — Santos Basin (pre-salt growth) | Petrobras | Future P-series and other units | Early-FEED / Near-FID | 2026–2030 | Part of Petrobras’ strategy to deploy ~15 FPSOs in 2025–2030, many still in engineering or procurement stages. |
Recent Highlights in Petrobras FPSO Projects
Several Petrobras FPSO Projects have already started production in 2025, marking key milestones for Brazil’s offshore industry. The Almirante Tamandaré FPSO began producing in February 2025, becoming one of the largest FPSOs in the world with over 225,000 barrels per day capacity. In May 2025, the Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO (Mero-4) also achieved first oil, reinforcing Petrobras’ dominance in deepwater development.
Meanwhile, the Maria Quitéria FPSO was delivered early for the Campos Basin, while additional Búzios units continue to push production higher. These achievements showcase Petrobras’ ability to deliver large-scale offshore projects despite global supply chain challenges.
Future Outlook for Petrobras FPSO Projects
Looking ahead, Petrobras has a robust pipeline of FPSOs scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2030. The company’s multi-year investment plan anticipates around 15 new units, several of which have already been sanctioned. Major projects include Atapu-2, Sépia-2, and the next wave of P-series FPSOs.
This expansion underscores Petrobras’ role as a leader in global offshore oil production. Suppliers, contractors and service companies across subsea, topsides and marine operations will continue to find opportunities as Petrobras advances its FPSO strategy.
Petrobras FPSO Projects represent one of the largest offshore oil development programs in the world. From past units like the early Búzios fleet to the cutting-edge Almirante Tamandaré and Alexandre de Gusmão, and future mega-FPSOs planned for the next decade, Petrobras is setting the pace for deepwater innovation.
For industry stakeholders, keeping track of these FPSO projects is essential. They signal opportunities in engineering, procurement, subsea equipment, operations and long-term partnerships. As Petrobras continues to expand its offshore footprint, the FPSO market will remain at the center of Brazil’s energy future.