Petrobras Launches Tender for Pipelaying Vessel, Potentially Shifting Subsea Contracting Strategy

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras has initiated a tender to contract a large pipelaying vessel (PLV) for installing rigid risers at its pre-salt developments in the Santos basin. This move could fundamentally alter how the company conducts its $1.5 billion-plus bidding competitions for subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines (SURF) systems. For the first time, having a contracted PLV on its fleet would remove a crucial component from the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) awards typically used in the pre-salt. Historically, Petrobras has awarded full-scope EPCI contracts for projects like Buzios and Mero, but this new strategy would allow the company to only purchase rigid pipes and use the chartered PLV for installation, potentially reducing overall costs. This approach mirrors a similar strategy Petrobras has used for over a decade with flexible pipelaying support vessels (PLSV) for projects outside the pre-salt.

Tender Details and Industry Response

Petrobras confirmed the tender for a PLV-type vessel for rigid pipes, stating it is conducted within the framework of partnerships and strategic planning, but did not disclose further details due to confidentiality clauses. Industry sources reported that Petrobras invited selected contractors—including Saipem, TechnipFMC, McDermott International, Allseas, and Subsea7—to submit commercial bids on August 17. The contract is for two and a half years, renewable for an additional two and a half years, with the vessel required to be available for operations in 2029. The PLV must be capable of operating alongside any floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel and would likely be used to install approximately 30 wells. A key technical requirement is that the rigid pipeline launching system must have a minimum dynamic wheel load (DWL) capacity of 520 tonnes-force for a water depth of 2,350 meters.

Market Implications and Bottlenecks

The long-term charter of a PLV makes strategic sense for Petrobras given the extensive SURF projects planned over the next decade. However, a significant bottleneck exists: there are few S-lay or J-lay vessels available in the market to install rigid pipes as specified in the bid documents. This scarcity may pose a challenge for Petrobras in securing a PLV for its future campaigns, potentially complicating the execution of its pre-salt development plans.