The DNV–classed BW Cidade de São Vicente became the first FPSO unit to start production on Brazil’s giant Tupi field.

The modification of the BW Cidade de São Vicente was a fast-track project, in that work began on the vessel in June 2008, and it left the yard on 6 February this year. The owner, BW Offshore, chose DNV to class the Sao Vicente FPSO and named it after the first official city in Brazil.

The operator, Petrobras, started production on the Tupi field on 1 May,and Brazil’s president Lula da Silva boarded BW Cidade de São Vicente to mark the occasion.

CHALLENGING OPERATION
Upon completion in Singapore, the vessel sailed to the Tupi field in Brazil, where it was met by a DNV team that has been assisting BW Offshore with the installation process.

The installation was a challenging operation which required pull in of the mooring lines, risers and umbilicals. This process occurred in parallel with carrying out the commissioning and testing before start-up of the well. The operation took place in water depths of about 2,200 metres.

CONSTRUCTION AND ASSEMBLY
BW Cidade de São Vicente was upgraded at the Keppel Benoi Yard in Singapore. DNV’s scope of work included:

• Fabrication supervision of all structures locally fabricated
• Modifications to the process plant modules
• Marine systems
• Testing Emergency Shutdown of the control systems and internal safety systems
• Total upgrade of the turret and mooring system, and a complete new swivel and fluid transfer system