Cracks Found on Modec FPSO after Oil Leak

An investigation into an oil leak from floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit Cidade do Rio de Janeiro at the Espadarte field offshore Brazil has revealed cracks in the FPSO’s hull.

According to Modec, the FPSO operator, a leak of 1.2 cubic meters of residual oil from the FPSO was initially reported.

The latest overflight from August 26 revealed further spillage of an estimated 6.6 cubic meters.

FPSO Cidade do Rio de Janeiro has been out of operation since July 2018 and is in the process of leaving the Espadarte field. All crew members were disembarked over the weekend.

Seven vessels have been deployed to the leak site, for recovery and dispersion, in addition to four support vessels and one helicopter for overflights.

Modec further said a widening of the cracks was identified since the beginning of the event, yet the vessel remains stable and is under permanent monitoring of Modec and Brazil’s oil and gas company Petrobras.