KUALA LUMPUR: SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd (SapKen) has delivered its sixth and final pipelay vessel (PLV), Sapura Rubi, to Petróleo Brasileiro S.A (Petrobras).
The vessel commenced work in Brazil on August 14, 2016.
The group’s offshore operations in Brazil for Petrobras are being executed there by its Brazilian joint venture company Sapura Navegacao Maritima (SNM), a 50:50 venture with offshore drilling company Seadrill Ltd.
SNM was awarded two long-term major contracts, worth a total of US$4.1bil, by Petrobras in November 2011 and June 2013.
The contracts were to build and operate a total of six PLVs for offshore deepwater flexible pipelay work in Brazil over a period of up to eight years, with an extension option of up to another eight years.
Sapura Rubi joins five other fully integrated pipelay vessels that were delivered in stages and are all now working in Brazil’s deepwater fields.
The first PLV, Sapura Diamante, started work on June 28, 2014 and since then, has been joined by Sapura Topázio and Sapura Ônix.
The final three PLVs, Sapura Jade, the Sapura Esmeralda and the Sapura Rubi, started work with Petrobras in this financial year.
“The commencement of work for Sapura Rubi marks the completion of our building program of six pipelay vessels to our customer, Petrobras, to operate in the ultradeepwater regions in Brazil.
“All vessels are now in operation, on time and on budget, highlighting our continued commitment to operate efficiently and effectively,” said Sapken president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin.