Olivier Blaringhem, Chief Executive Officer of Subsea Integration Alliance, stated: “This achievement is the result of a collaborative, integrated effort by SIA’s partners reflecting all the experience we have gained throughout Bacalhau Phase 1.”
The Bacalhau project, with an $8 billion investment finalized in June 2021, features a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit using MODEC’s M350 hull, a next-generation design for FPSOs. The FPSO, capable of producing 220,000 barrels per day, supports the Bacalhau field across two licenses, BM-S-8 and Norte de Carcará, in Brazil’s pre-salt region. The development includes 19 subsea wells connected to the FPSO, which spans an area equivalent to three standard football fields. The FPSO arrived at the Santos Basin on February 21, 2025, with first oil expected later in 2025.
The Bacalhau field, including the Bacalhau North area, holds recoverable reserves exceeding 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Equinor operates the field in collaboration with ExxonMobil, Petrogal Brasil, and Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA).
The Phase 2 concept study will build on the progress of Phase 1, leveraging SIA’s expertise to advance the field’s development. Subsea Integration Alliance has recently secured additional contracts, including projects for BP’s natural gas development off Trinidad and Tobago and a subsea tie-back in the UK North Sea, demonstrating its growing role in global energy infrastructure.
This initiative underscores Equinor’s commitment to optimizing the Bacalhau field’s potential while integrating advanced subsea technologies. The collaboration with SIA aims to ensure efficient and sustainable development, supporting Brazil’s offshore energy sector and contributing to global energy demands.
