GE Power Conversion to Supply the Electrical Module for an FPSO Vessel

GE Power Conversion was chosen by Saipem, the multinational oilfield services company, to develop the Electrical Module for Petrobras’ Floating Production Storage Offloading vessel (FPSO), coded P-79, which will be used for the production of oil and gas extraction. The module will be fabricated in Asia and delivered in 2023 to the integration shipyard in South Korea. The FPSO is scheduled to commence operations in the Búzios field within the Santos Basin in 2025. The field location, off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, is considered the largest deep-water oilfield in the world.

The collaboration between GE Power Conversion and the Italian contractor Saipem to deliver the Electrical Module includes medium-voltage and low-voltage switchboards and motor control centers and high-power transformers for the P-79 vessel with a high degree of local content. The Electrical Module to be provided by GE Power Conversion is considered the heart of the platform as it provides all the distributed energy to power the entire FPSO, in addition to housing equipment that controls the vessel. The Electrical Module can be compared in size to a three or four-story building, weighing approximately 2,000 tons, 25 meters high, 22 meters wide, and 33 meters long. 

“GE Power Conversion has previously delivered Electrical Modules to six of Petrobras’ owned and operated FPSOs operating in the pre-salt area including P-75 and P-77 in the Búzios field, with similar scope of supply to what will be provided for the P-79 FPSO. GE’s proven track record in demonstrating technical expertise for the demanding operating profile of the FPSO has been a key success factor in securing this important contract,” said André Ribeiro, Commercial Leader for the marine sector for GE Power Conversion in Latin America.

GE Power Conversion in Belo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is responsible for Project Management, Engineering, and Manufacturing of the electrical equipment for the Electrical Module which, in turn, will be assembled by Wasco Shipyard, Indonesia, and then placed on the FPSO at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) Shipyard in South Korea. After the equipment has been assembled, installed, and commissioned, the FPSO will sail from South Asia to the Brazilian coast.“A truly global effort, highlighting GE’s commitment to its customers and its ability to produce equipment within Brazil, with a high level of local content and meeting all the requirements of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) for offshore installations” said Carlos Adriao Guimaraes, Sales Director for GE Power Conversion in Latin America.

About GE Power Conversion

GE Power Conversion applies the science and systems of power conversion to help drive the electric transformation of the world’s energy infrastructure. Designing and delivering advanced motor, drive, and control technologies that evolve today’s industrial processes for a cleaner, more productive future, it serves specialized sectors such as energy, marine, industry, and all related services. www.gepowerconversion.com

About GE

GE drives the world forward by tackling its biggest challenges. By combining world-class engineering with software and analytics, GE helps the world work more efficiently, reliably, and safely. For more than 125 years, GE has invented the future of the industry, and today it leads to new paradigms in additive manufacturing, materials science, and data analytics. GE people are global, diverse, and dedicated, operating with the highest integrity and passion to fulfill GE’s mission and deliver for our customers. www.ge.com