Technip is moving into uncharted territory with its deal to supply 8-in. flexible oil production pipes to Petrobras for the Libra presalt field off Brazil.

These will be the first 8-in. oil production pipes to be installed in the presalt area.

The project includes the supply of flexible pipes for the Libra extended well test field, located in the Santos Basin, one of the first steps of the Libra giant field development.

The contract covers the supply of high-end flexible pipes including 8-in. oil production, 6-in. service and 6-in. gas-injection flexible pipes.

Technip said the deal reinforces flexible pipes’ suitability for the ultradeepwater and fluid harsh conditions of Brazilian presalt fields.

The company’s operating centre in Rio de Janeiro will perform the project management and engineering.

The highly technological flexible pipes will be produced at Technip’s manufacturing sites in Vitόria and Açu, Brazil. Delivery is scheduled to start in second-half 2016.

Adriano Novitsky, president of Technip in Brazil, said, “Technip is very proud to have been selected to supply the first pipes for the Libra development. It is the result of strong R&D and engineering efforts to overcome the presalt technical challenges using a flexible pipes solution.”

Meanwhile, Technip also has picked up more work under a frame agreement signed with Petronas last year.

It has been awarded a subsea contract by Petronas’ partner JX Nippon Oil and Gas for work in the Layang Field in Block SK10 offshore Sarawak, Malaysia, at a water depth of 85 m.

The contract covers the engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning of three flexible pipes totalling 9.9 km.

The flexible pipes consist of two production risers and flowlines and one gas export riser and flowline, connecting shallow-water platforms to a new FPSO vessel.

The flexible flowlines will be produced in Asiaflex Products, Technip’s manufacturing facility in Tanjung Langsat, Johor, Malaysia. Installation will be done with the Deep Orient, and the project is scheduled to be completed in second-half 2016.