Maximizing the Monetization of Natural Gas from the Búzios Field through an Offshore Hub with a SSM-FLNG

Abstract

Brazil’s pre-salt fields, particularly the Búzios Field, represent one of the most prolific oil and gas producing regions in the world. However, the large volumes of associated natural gas generated in these operations present a significant strategic challenge: how to economically and sustainably monetize this resource. Currently, a substantial portion of this gas is reinjected into reservoirs, a practice driven by technical obstacles such as high carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration and the absence of adequate transportation and processing infrastructure. This article proposes an innovative and integrated offshore solution aimed not only at mitigating this reinjection practice but also at transforming Brazil into a competitive exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), thereby adding substantial value to the national energy industry. The core of the proposal is the creation of a strategically located offshore natural gas hub designed to centralize the collection and processing of raw gas from multiple Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) units operating in the Búzios Field. Rather than requiring each FPSO to independently manage its own gas treatment, the hub serves as a unified processing point, optimizing impurity removal, including CO 2 , to produce a clean, high-quality natural gas stream. This centralization simplifies logistics, reduces the individual capital expenditure (CAPEX) burden on each FPSO by enabling shared infrastructure, and represents a logical advancement of the guidelines set forth by the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy under the “Gás para Empregar” program. Importantly, this approach offers a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to conventional pipeline-based solutions. Once treated in the hub platform, the natural gas is transferred from the hub to a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) platform, also located offshore. The FLNG is responsible for the liquefaction process, cooling the gas to approximately −162˚C and converting it into LNG, a liquid form with significantly reduced volume that is well-suited for transport via LNG carriers. Producing LNG offshore, in close proximity to the source, enables direct commercialization on international markets where pricing conditions are more favorable, while also allowing supply to domestic coastal terminals. The most significant innovation put forward in this study is the proposal to deploy a small-scale, mobile FLNG (SSM-FLNG) structure connected to the centralized hub, rather than to individual FPSOs. This configuration, described as having no known global precedent, optimizes both logistics and operational costs, and is the defining feature that makes the integrated project economically viable. To assess financial feasibility, the study develops a flexible Excel-based modeling and simulation tool that allows users to input key assumptions, including CAPEX, operating costs, and gas prices, and generate scenario-based financial outputs. Key metrics evaluated include Net Present Value (NPV) and EBITDA. The results confirm the solution’s viability: a positive NPV demonstrates surplus value generation for investors, while a positive EBITDA reflects strong operational efficiency. In conclusion, this work contributes an engineering, logistical, and financial framework that transforms a longstanding technical and environmental challenge into a compelling economic opportunity. By combining a centralized offshore processing hub with an innovative SSM-FLNG configuration, the proposed solution positions Brazil to capture greater value from its pre-salt gas resources and to assert a stronger presence in the global LNG market.