29-08-09 Petrobras and American outfit FMC Technologies signed a technological cooperation agreement on August 18, 2009 to deploy the world's first submarine oil-water separator system (SOWSS) to be used for heavy oil in deep waters.
The SOWSS will allow for a significant reduction in the amount of water that is produced and reaches the platform. This, in turn, will increase the installed infrastructure's oil treatment capacity and, thus, help boost the recovery factor (the amount of oil that can be extracted). Additionally, it may simplify the production systems (platforms) since, among other advantages, the separator is installed on the seabed.

The agreement was signed at Petrobras's main office building in Rio de Janeiro. The event was attended by Petrobras E&P (Exploration & Production) area's executive manager for Production Engineering, Solange Guedes; by the CEO of FMC Technologies do Brasil, Nelson Leite; and by other E&P, Cenpes, and FMC staff involved in the project.
During the event, Solange Guedes highlighted the importance of developing seabed technological solutions for the Campos Basin.
"The submarine solution, in addition to affording longevity to the Campos Basin, increases the recovery factor," she said.

Nelson Leite thanked Petrobras its trust in the project: "We are honoured to have made this project feasible together with Petrobras and for the trust the company has in it."
Built in Brazil by FMC Technologies do Brasil, a company that specializes in submarine equipment for the oil industry, the prototype is expected to be installed in the Marlim field in mid-2011. Marlim was picked as the first site for this technology to be installed in due to its sizeable heavy oil reserves, because it is located in deep waters, and on account of its being a mature field. The system was designed to process 22,000 barrels of liquids per day.