DISCLAIMER: Hebei Haihao Group does not claim participation in this project. This case study is based solely on public information and is provided for industry reference.
Bacalhau Phase 1, operated by Equinor in the Brazilian pre-salt Santos Basin, represents a significant benchmark for ultra-deepwater FPSO projects. With a production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day and storage of two million barrels, the project highlights the engineering and procurement challenges of high-pressure, high-CO2 reservoirs. For EPC engineers and procurement managers, understanding the technical parameters and supply chain requirements of such projects is essential for planning and executing similar developments.
Project Overview and Key Parameters
Bacalhau is Equinor's largest international field, with an estimated recovery of over 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent for Phase 1. The field is located in water depths exceeding 2,000 meters, with a complex carbonate reservoir at 900 bar pressure. The FPSO, one of the largest in Brazil, measures 370 meters long and 64 meters wide. The project achieved first oil in October 2025, with a planned production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day.
The development includes 19 subsea wells tied back to the FPSO. The FPSO features combined cycle gas turbines, a first for Brazil, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions to approximately 9 kg per barrel, half the industry average. This focus on efficiency and emissions reduction is a key consideration for topsides piping design and material selection.
