Petrobras details FPSO explosion failings

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 12, 2015 – Brazilian semi-public energy company Petrobras has detailed errors that led to an explosion on a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) that killed nine people earlier this year.

On 11 February, the Cidade de São Mateus, owned by multinational FPSO company BW Offshore, experienced a gas leak and subsequent blast.

In April both companies carried out an investigation into the incident. Factors that led to the blast, according to a statement released by Petrobras, were non-compliance with operational procedures for fluid-pumping operations, the installation of a pipe rack without the correct technical specifications and registered incidents of non-compliance or alterations in security procedures.

The full report has not yet been authorised for release by Brazilian regulatory authorities, reports Upstream Online.

The FPSO is undergoing recovery operations that started with draining the topside modules and the transfers of stored production to a shuttle tanker. It will then be moved to a repair yard for refurbishing, which is expected to take up to two years.

Petrobras is also facing a probe for a separate scandal involving alleged multibillion-dollar bribes in the form of overcharges paid to government officials in return for contract approvals.

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