(Petrobras, 11.Nov.2024) — Since 10 Nov. 2024, the Natural Gas Processing Unit (NGPU), situated at the Boaventura Energy Complex (Itaboraí, RJ), has been commercially operating its first module, which is capable of processing 10.5 million m³/day. Once the second module becomes operational, probably by the end of the year, the total processing capacity will be 21 million m³/day.
Boaventura’s NGPU will help increase supply to the domestic market, reducing dependence on imports. The natural gas flowing to the unit is a raw gas that, after processing, generates at least three byproducts: Natural Gas (NG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG or cooking gas), and C5+ (a raw material used in the petrochemical industry and fuel production).
Petrobras’ natural gas supply to the market, including the gas generated by flowing in the Rota 3 Gas Pipeline and processed at Boaventura’s NGPU, comprises a domestic market-oriented portfolio. That is, the natural gas produced at the newly established unit integrates the total volume portfolio provided by the company.
“The Rota 3 Integrated Project not only increases flow capacity but also makes our activities more flexible because, regardless of the connection point, the gas from the production fields in the Santos Basin can flow to the company’s many processing units, including the Boaventura Energy Complex’s new NGPU,” explains Renata Baruzzi, the Engineering, Technology, and Innovation Director.
The Rota 3 Integrated Project is part of Santos Basin’s Integrated Gas Flow System, responsible for the flow of fields such as Tupi, Búzios, and Sapinhoá, among others.
Higher gas supply to the domestic Market
The commercial operation of Boaventura’s NGPU is a strategy for Petrobras since it enables higher natural gas flow from the Santos Basin’s Pre-Salt Layer, increasing the gas supply to the Brazilian market.
“The commercial startup of Boaventura’s NGPU represents the beginning of an integrated project of high operational complexity, ranging from the exploitation to the delivery of the NGPU’s output, which reaffirms our firm purpose of supplying the domestic market with a higher volume of gas. These new infrastructures have the capacity for up to 18 million m³/day at flow and up to 21 million m³/day at processing, helping develop the country and preserve the Company’s financial sustainability,” says William França, Petrobras’s Industrial Process and Product Director.
“The startup of such a relevant project to the gas market is essential to Brazil and to improve Petrobras’s competitiveness in the new dynamic and competitive environment for the Brazilian gas market. We reinforced our assets portfolio, invested in Brazil, and will manage to diminish imports. Consequently, we could provide Petrobras’s clients with new commercial conditions and raise our supply reliability, which is practically 100%. Now we’ll take all our energy and the new gas from the Boaventura Energy Complex to the distributors and industry clients interested in sustainable and competitive solutions,” adds Maurício Tolmasquim, Energy Transition and Sustainability Director.
In 2023, Petrobras entered into over 34 natural gas supply contracts after winning public bids by distributors and competitive free consumer processes, accounting for over 70 billion m³ in contracts with sales forecast until 2034. Besides, the company entered into instruments with many companies to evaluate energy transition opportunities.
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