DNV as the CVA and Class Society for the first FPSO in the US Gulf of Mexico

20/06/2008

DNV and Petrobras America Inc have signed a Certified Verification Agent (CVA) contract for the first FPSO in the US Gulf of Mexico. It will also be converted, installed and operated under DNV Class.

The FPSO will be installed on the Chinook and Cascade fields at the beginning of 2010, with production commencing in the first quarter of 2010. The FPSO will have a storage capacity of about 600,000 barrels of oil, a processing capacity of 80,000 BOPD and gas export facilities of 16 MMSCFD. It will be installed in a water depth of 2600 m, probably the deepest waters in which an FPSO has ever been installed. BW Offshore, one of the world's leading FPSO operators, has signed the contract with Petrobras for the conversion, installation and operation under DNV Class.

As the Certified Verification Agent (CVA), DNV will ensure that the US MMS requirements are complied with for all the five significant elements in this project:

Hull
Topsides with topside-hull interfaces
Turret with turret-hull interfaces
Polyester mooring system
Piled foundation.

DNV will perform CVA work during three phases – the design, fabrication, and installation. DNV's Offshore Service Centre in Houston, USA, will be responsible for the contract and the complete execution of this work.

www.dnv.com

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