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Equinor Secures Key Suppliers for $9B Gas Project Offshore Brazil

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Equinor ASA (EQNR - Free Report) , a Norwegian state-owned energy company, has made significant progress in its $9 billion Raia offshore gas project in Brazil. Per a Bloomberg report, the company’s CEO Anders Opedal confirmed, during an oil conference in Rio de Janeiro, that all major contracts have been secured to build a floating production vessel, drill wells and install seabed infrastructure. The project, which aims to meet 15% of Brazil’s gas demand, is expected to begin production by 2028.

Valaris to Lead Offshore Drilling for EQNR’s Raia Project

The Norwegian energy major, alongside its contractors, aims to contribute significantly to Brazil's domestic gas supply, alleviating pressure on prices for industrial and residential users. Notably, Valaris Ltd. (VAL - Free Report) secured a $498 million contract earlier this year to deploy its Valaris DS-17 drillship for Raia's drilling operations. The Valaris DS-17 drillship is tasked with executing the offshore operations, crucial for the project's success.

The Raia project is part of Brazil's strategy to enhance its domestic gas supply, lower energy prices and reduce reliance on external sources. In addition to boosting offshore gas production, Brazil is also exploring gas imports from Argentina's Vaca Muerta region and urging local producers to send more gas ashore instead of reinjecting them into offshore oil fields.

Equinor’s Bacalhau Project on Track

Meanwhile, Equinor is progressing with its Bacalhau offshore oil project in Brazil. The first oil from Bacalhau is anticipated in 2025. However, Opedal noted that it remains uncertain whether the construction of a gas pipeline and associated infrastructure for Bacalhau will be financially viable. Such infrastructure projects may require partnerships with other producers to distribute costs.

The developments in the Raia and Bacalhau projects reinforce Equinor's expanding footprint in Brazil’s energy sector, highlighting its role in shaping the region’s energy future.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

EQNR and Valaris currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each.

Investors interested in the energy sector may look at a couple of better-ranked stocks like TechnipFMC plc (FTI - Free Report) and Core Laboratories Inc. (CLB - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

TechnipFMC is a leading manufacturer and supplier of products, services and fully integrated technology solutions for the energy industry, with a focus on the subsea segment in offshore basins worldwide. FTI’s growing backlog ensures strong revenue visibility and supports margin improvements.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FTI’s 2024 EPS is pegged at $1.34. The company has a Zacks Style Score of B for Value and A for Growth. It has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2025 in the past 30 days.

Core Laboratories, an oilfield services company, has a deep portfolio of sophisticated, proprietary products and services that positions it to take advantage of the growing maturity in the global hydrocarbon reserve base. CLB’s expanding international upstream projects indicate a positive trajectory for revenues and profitability, especially as oil demand continues to rise globally.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLB’s 2024 EPS is pegged at $0.95. The company has a Value Score of B. It has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2024 and 2025 in the past 30 days.


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