Peter Howard Wertheim
OGJ correspondent
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 -- Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), Brazil's state-owned oil company, has rejected all bids for contracts to build two electric power generating modules for two new semisubmersible production platforms, the P-51 and the P-52.
The company said the offers, which ranged $117-132 million, were too lofty and will now try to negotiate lower prices from other firms including Dresser-Rand Co., Nuovo Pignone, and Rolls-Royce PLC.
Petrobras continues to analyze technical proposals for gas compression modules for the two semis. The result of the bid is expected for July 22.
The P-51 semi will be installed in in 1,800 m of water in Marlim Sul giant field in Campos basin, 175 km from Rio de Janeiro, and will process 180,000 b/d of oil with a 200-member crew, a Petrobras source told OGJ.
P-52 will be installed in Roncador field, also in Campos basin, in 1,255 m of water. P-52 also will process 180,000 b/d of oil, working 110 km from Rio de Janeiro with a 200-member crew. The semi will replace P-36, which sank in March 2001 as a result of explosions due to gas leakage (OGJ Online, Mar. 16, 2001).
