The $US1.2 billion southeast-northeast interconnection gas pipeline project is sponsored by Petrobras in partnership with Sinopec and is being partially funded by the Chinese Exim Bank.
The Gasene Project comprises three pipeline stretches: Cacimbas-Vitória; Cabiúnas-Vitória (GASCAV); and, Cacimbas-Catu (GASCAC). The first stretch will carry natural gas from the Peroá-Cangoá fields to Vitória, capital city of EspÃrito Santo. From that point, the product shall be transported to Cabiúnas, in Rio de Janeiro, through the GASCAV pipeline.
The Cacimbas-Vitória stretch will extend for 131 km, with a nominal diameter of 26/16 inches. Construction on this pipeline is expected to be completed in September 2007, with Petrobras estimating that licensing will be completed in October and commissioning, completion and start-up between September and October.
The GASCAV stretch of the pipeline extends for 300 km and has a diameter of 28 inches, allowing a daily flow of 20 MMcm, with two compressor stations. This stretch also includes a branch line, extending for 10 km and interconnecting the trunk line to Anchieta. The GASCAV stretch has a preliminary licence, installation licence and construction authorisation, its construction is underway and commissioning, completion and start-up are scheduled for October to December 2007.
TenarisConfab has entered into a contract with Transportadora Gasene S.A. to supply pipes for the GASCAC gas pipeline construction, with deliveries having commenced in the first quarter of 2007.
The contract represents a total supply of 980 km of 28 inch coated welded steel pipes. The steel has been supplied by the Usiminas System, and a significant part of the pipes coating is being performed by Socotherm Brazil.
The GASCAV pipeline is the last stretch of the interconnecting project. Shippings are scheduled to be completed by December 2007, with construction expected to commence in September 2009, licensing in October 2009, and commissioning, completion and start-up in September to November 2009.
The GASCAC pipeline, with a similar daily flow to the GASCAV pipeline, will carry natural gas from Cacimbas to Catu (Bahia), where it will be connected to the Catu-Carmópolis-Pilar pipeline. All of these projects have been implemented using TenarisConfab pipes.
The Gasene Project is part of Petrobras’ Gas Production Anticipation Plan – Plangas (Plano de Antecipação da Produção de Gás), which aims to increase natural gas production and supply in the southeastern region, in a 2006/2010 time frame. Plangas targets an increase of approximately 24 MMcm/d in the supply of natural gas in the south-southeast, raising the current availability of 15.8 MMcm/d to 40 MMcm/d by the end of 2008.
The Campos Basin, the biggest oil-producing basin off the Brazilian coast, completed 30 years of production in August 2007. About 1.49 MMbbl of oil and 22 MMcm of gas are produced from the basin a day, and its potential is far from being depleted. According to Petrobras forecasts, it will be producing 1.8 MMbbl of oil and 34.6 MMcm of gas per day in 2010.