Deepwater decommissioning campaign for Petrojarl I FPSO
Project overview
Project name:
Petrojarl 1
Location:
Santos Basin | Brazil
Developer partners:
Altera
Water depth:
1,500 m
Solution:
FPSO decommissioning
Intermoor, Acteon’s Moorings and Anchors business line, executed a multi-phase offshore decommissioning campaign for Petrojarl I FPSO offshore Brazil.
Overcoming technical complexity in deepwater
The decommissioning of FPSO Petrojarl I presented several technical challenges due to the age of the asset and demanding offshore conditions. In parallel, continuous station keeping and heading control of the FPSO were critical during riser and mooring line disconnection activities.
Our solution
Early identification of risks and flawless execution
The first phase included the provision of engineering for pull-in wire replacement, risers pull-out, mooring line disconnection, including a contingency plan of non-operability of mooring winches and the FPSO towing preparation and tow plan.
Subsequently, the mooring system removal required the recovery of eight mooring lines in approximately 1,500 m of water, which added substantial operational and logistical complexity. The campaign also involved the replacement of a 3.5-inch pull in wire and the spooling of 16 sections of polyester rope, each 4.5 inches in diameter and 1,100 m in length, demanding careful handling, sequencing, and equipment coordination.
And finally, the team was involved in the towing of the asset to Las Palmas.
Working at scale
Our team provided locally:
- Up to six Mooring Masters and Tow Master offshore simultaneously
- 150-ton spooling machine
- Surface positioning survey for three assets
- Equipment such as chain, connecting links and J-lock
The result
The project delivered significant benefits, including the early identification of risks that enabled:
- effective mitigation well ahead of offshore execution,
- a flawless safety record with no injuries,
- successful completion of the full decommissioning scope,
and minimised offshore downtime and avoided costly schedule delays.
These outcomes were achieved through a comprehensive planning phase that addressed all potential offshore scenarios, ranging from weather impacts and vessel logistics to mooring contingencies and equipment readiness. At the same time, the team ensured seamless coordination between engineering, operations, and marine assets, ultimately demonstrating the capability to deliver complex offshore projects from concept engineering through to completion.
Related case studies
Explore more decommissioning projects
Case Studies
Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) disconnection, removal and towing
Case Studies
Seamless pipeline tie-in decommissioning and asset transfer
Case Studies
From mooring to decommissioning with a deepwater FPU
Speak to our team
Our team of experts will design a solution that fits the technical, environmental and commercial demands of offshore projects.