BG Group announced the start-up of the Cidade de Ilhabela floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. This is the second unit deployed on the Sapinhoá field and the fifth FPSO to have come onstream across the interests in which BG Group is partner in the pre-salt Santos Basin, offshore Brazil.

The Cidade de Ilhabela has capacity to process 150 000 barrels of oil per day and 212 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas. Together with the Cidade de São Paulo, BG Group’s net capacity from Sapinhoá will be 81 000 barrels of oil per day. The Cidade de São Paulo, which started producing in January 2013, is now at plateau production.

The oil produced from Sapinhoá is high quality and of medium density (29° API). Gas not used for reinjection will be transferred to shore through the Santos Basin pipeline system.

BG Group has a 30% interest in the Sapinhoá field which sits within Block BM-S-9 (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., operator, 45% and Repsol Sinopec Brasil 25%). BG Group also has a 25% interest in Block BM-S-11 (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., operator, 65% and Petrogal Brasil 10%).

About BG Group

BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a broad portfolio of business interests focused on exploration and production and liquefied natural gas. Active in more than 20 countries on five continents, BG Group combines a deep understanding of gas markets with a proven track record in finding and commercialising reserves.