MODEC Selects SUEZ Technology For Largest FPSO Project In Brazil

MODEC Offshore Production Systems has awarded a multi-million dollar contract to SUEZ’s Water Technologies & Solutions for the supply of seawater sulphate removal technology. MODEC is constructing a new floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel on behalf of Equinor Norway, the operator of the Bacalhau oil field, and will use SUEZ ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes to reduce seawater sulphate levels to required levels.

The contract includes equipment supply, engineering, project management, procurement and construction supervision. Production capacity of the FPSO is 220,000 barrel/day of oil and 15,000,000 m3/day of gas.

“It is a great vote of confidence to have MODEC select SUEZ technology for this project and we look forward to continuing to be a strong partner,” said Kevin Cassidy, executive vice president, engineered systems for SUEZ – Water Technologies & Solutions. “With our expertise and capability, we have the global reach that MODEC has come to rely on and we are proud to be considered a preferred supplier on these essential projects.”

To produce oil, treated seawater must be injected into the reservoir. Commonly referred to in the industry as an SRU, seawater sulphate removal units using ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes are an essential part of this process and critical to the protection and operation of the assets onboard the FPSO.

SUEZ is a leading manufacturer and supplier of the UF and NF membranes that the offshore oil & gas industry relies on to remove sulphates and other divalent hardness ions from injection water, to enhance oil recovery. The removal of these ions reduces the tendency of barium sulphate and strontium sulphate scale to form in the reservoir and flowlines, plus will prevent well souring by controlling sulphate reducing bacteria.

This latest win with MODEC marks the second contract with MODEC in a span of 6 months and is the fifth contract between SUEZ and MODEC in this space.