Renewing Fiber Optics Infrastructure on Mature Offshore Assets at Campos Basin

Abstract The "New Fiber Optic Network for Campos Basin" Project is a strategic initiative aimed at renewing the Campos Basin mature offshore assets' communication infrastructure. The project began as a business case proposition in 2020 and initiated the construction in 2024. It involves laying 500km fiber optic cables connecting two onshore stations, in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo States to 12 stationary production units at depths of up to 1,800m, providing 100 Gbps links. The paper will describe all the steps in the project approval and deployment phases, including a technical description of the solutions selected for implementation, the risks associated with such choices, and how they are being mitigated. The first illumination is scheduled to take place in 2025, and as such the project is in an advanced completion stage, which shall provide valuable insights into the way in which the project is being implemented. The business case demonstrates the project strategic importance to assure investments returns by supporting the use of current and new technology on monitoring and controlling production and to assure operational safety from remote control rooms and real time integrated operation centers. The project is being executed through an engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract, which is a comprehensive approach that covers the main aspects of the project from design to installation. During the initial phase, a thorough evaluation was conducted to determine the feasibility and value of investing in connectivity for mature field assets. This involved assessing the infrastructure ability to ensure actual increase of oil production. In the second phase, the project scope was detailed, designed, and the hiring strategy was defined. This phase took place in a post-pandemic booming market scenario and included not only the offshore installation of the optical fiber network but also necessary adjustments to the operating platforms and the design of onshore facilities. A robust governance structure was essential to align the work on the platforms with the EPCI activities. Figure 1 shows the final scope of the Campos Basin optical fiber network project Figure 1fiber optic network for Campos Basin The project faced delays in the environmental licensing process, which were mitigated by adopting a strategy of phasing licenses. Renewing infrastructure in implemented systems is uncommon in the oil and gas industry. However, to remain competitive in a digital era where high technologies, like artificial intelligence, IoT and digital twins can be applied to maximize gains, companies must consider the necessary infrastructure to deploy it. This project presents a business case, project development, and lessons learned that are valuable for implementing new fiber optic networks or infrastructure projects in existing offshore stationary production units.