Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO Reaches 180,000 bpd, Lifting Mero's Five-Unit System

With the Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO reaching its design capacity of 180,000 barrels per day, the five-FPSO production system at Brazil's Mero field has gained additional production capacity.

With the Alexandre de Gusmão FPSO reaching its design capacity of 180,000 barrels per day, the five-FPSO production system at Brazil’s Mero field has gained additional production capacity.

Alexandre de Gusmão achieved first oil on May 24, 2025. After a production ramp-up of roughly 15 months, the unit is now producing at its designed oil capacity of 180,000 barrels per day. It can also process 12 million cubic metres of gas per day. Five production wells and three injection wells are currently connected, with 12 wells planned in the final configuration. SBM Offshore designed, built and operates the FPSO using its standardised Fast4Ward concept under a 22.5-year lease and operate contract with Petrobras.

Alexandre de Gusmão is also a major FPSO built in China.

Its Fast4Ward multi-purpose floater hull was built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and delivered in 2023. The hull then moved to COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry’s Qidong yard for topsides integration, commissioning and final project delivery. Alexandre de Gusmão was named in Qidong in November 2024, delivered the following month and then sailed for Brazil.

With Alexandre de Gusmão in operation, Mero is now produced through five FPSOs: Pioneiro de Libra, Guanabara, Sepetiba, Marechal Duque de Caxias and Alexandre de Gusmão. Alexandre de Gusmão is the field’s fourth permanent production system, while Pioneiro de Libra primarily serves the early production system.

Petrobras said Mero averaged about 740,000 barrels of oil per day in the second quarter of 2026, before Alexandre de Gusmão reached peak production. With the FPSO now at 180,000 barrels per day, Mero’s five-unit production system has gained further output support.

Mero is located in the Libra block of the Santos Basin and is one of Brazil’s most important pre-salt fields. Petrobras operates the project with a 38.6% interest. Shell and TotalEnergies each hold 19.3%, while CNPC and CNOOC each hold 9.65%. PPSA participates on behalf of the Brazilian government.