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BW Offshore FPSO involved in February fatal explosion off Brazil still out of action

BW Offshore has revealed that its Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit involved in a multiple-fatality explosion in February is still moored offshore Brazil.

The Norway and Singapore joint-headquartered company reported in its quarterly update that recovery work continues on the Cidade de Sao Mateus FPSO on which nine workers died in the February 11 explosion.

The FPSO has been cleared of gas and condensate. It stands inactive in the Espirito Santo basin, an area rich in subsalt layers.

In June Brazil’s state oil firm Petrobras, for whom the FPSO was operating, completed an analysis of the causes of the blast. It put the blame on breaches of fluid pumping operating procedures, the installation of an improper piece of equipment in a pipe, and safety procedure violations.

BW Offshore said the Cidade de Sao Mateus still has to have its risers and mooring cables disconnected before it can be brought ashore for repairs.

Donal Scully

With 28 years experience writing and editing for newspapers in the UK and Hong Kong, Donal is now based in California from where he covers the Americas for Splash as well as ensuring the site is loaded through the Western Hemisphere timezone.
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