Lillian Tønnesen and Jan Erik Kilen of Rib Offshore.
Several NBCC members were participating at the 8th edition of Brasil Offshore in Macaé, from June 23-26, 2015.
«To Norsafe, Brasil Offshore is the best and most important event of the industry in Brazil», says Area Sales Manager Jan Erik Kilen, representing RIB Norsafe at the biannual trade fair.
Brasil Offshore is the third biggest event of its kind in the world, with more than 700 national and international exhibitors, more than 50.000 visitors, and a significant participation from Petrobras.
Macaé is proud to call itself the oil capital of Brazil, and the Campos Basin still accounts for about 80 percent of the domestic oil and gas production, with Macaé as the main operational base. According to estimates, investments of 220 billion USD will be made in the sector from 2014-2018, and important deals are sealed and valuable contacts made during events like Brasil Offshore.
NBCC members Aker Solutions and MRM Global Logistics were among the event sponsors. Other NBCC companies like NOV and Rolls-Royce were to find among the exhibitors. Paint producer Jotun, who is preparing to open a brand new manufacturing facility in Itaborai in July, was also represented at the fair.
Marcio Moreira (to the right) and his colleagues at Harding.Brazil is a market of priority to the Norwegian-Brazilian manufacturer of lifeboat and rescue boats, RIB Norsafe, although Asia and the North Sea still are bigger markets.
«We are established here and have people from our main office in Norway here during Brasil Offshore. We have participated at this event from the beginning. Brazil has huge oil and gas reserves, and there are big opportunities», Jan Erik Kilen says.
The company has about 30 employees, and the majority is working in the manufacturing unit of Rib Norsafe in Sapucaia do Sul, RS.
«Today we are manufacturing our equipment here in Brazil and we´ve made deliveries to several FPSOs. These are challenging times, forcing us to adjust our activity level accordingly. There are concerns regarding the drill ships and new FPSOs, and plans might be changing, reducing the number of vessels to be built here, so adjustments are needed. In our case, we have more deliveries to make in the years to come. Delays and bad planning is something you need to be prepared for», Mr. Kilen says. The company is also trying to win deliveries to new segments in Brazil, like coast guard and military vessels, and Mr. Kilen is very satisfied with the feedback and interest from visitors at the show.
Director General Kieran Nash and his colleagues at StormGeo.A Norwegian success story
StormGeo, a company who joined NBCC quite recently, is one of the largest privately held weather service providers worldwide. It provides meteorological services, particularly to the offshore, renewable energy, shipping, corporate enterprise and media industries.
«The oil and gas industry is our strongest market in Brazil at the moment, and this event is dedicated to this industry. We have been in Brazil for four years now, and we attend these shows every year, in Macaé and Rio de Janeiro, and even though it is quite technical, it is important to be seen», Director General Kieran Nash says.
In Brazil, the company offers the full range of met-ocean services that include wind, waves, ocean graphics, including forecasting and the measuring of wind, wave heights and ocean currents, which have a huge effect on operations in Brazil due to the water depth. Mr. Nash even calls his company «a Norwegian success story».
«Yes, very much so. StormGeo has grown very much, with offices all over the world, in Houston, California, Singapore, Azerbaijan, UK, Hamburg, Beijing, Korea and Hong Kong», Mr. Nash says.
Harding is another Norwegian manufacturer and service provider of marine life-saving systems with a solid track record in Brazil. Petrobras is on the client list, as well as companies like Odebrecth, Ocean Rig, Transocean and Seadrill.
«We are here because our operational base is here in Macaé, and our clients are all here. To us, Brasil Offshore has overcome our expectations. So we find it vital to be present here. We meet both present and potential clients, suppliers, and we believe that you have to be seen, to be visible, to be noticed, especially in more challenging times, like now. This is also what we want to achieve with our participance here. Despite the crisis, our market segment is actually growing, and looking forward, we are very optimistic», Project Manager Marcio Moreira, says.
Technical program
The conference program during the event featured presentations on topics like well and reservoirs, mature fields, operational safety and subsea. Eduardo Galletti, Lead Drilling Engineer of Statoil, talked about extended reach drilling using water-based mud in the Peregrino field. Flávio Diniz, who is the Business Development manager of the DNV GL Risk Advisory Department talked about process safety critical barrier management in mature fields, while his department manager Jaime Lima talked about challenges for decommissioning of and revitalizing of mature fields.
Representatives of Subsea 7 and Aker Solutions also gave presentations during the technical conference.
«Brasil Offshore offers excellent opportunities for dialogue and the exchange of ideas and information that will spark the curiosity, challenging processes, research and activities that will light our way to a better tomorrow», Mr. Helge Haldorsen, of Statoil, and also representing the international Society of Petroleum Engineers, said in a message to delegates and visitors in the official event catalogue.
By Runa Hestmann, NBCC journalist
(runa.tierno@nbcc.com.br)
Brasil Offshore
: