SapuraCrest Petroleum has received a trio of pipe-laying vessel construction and charter contracts worth USD 1.4 billion from Petrobras. The Malaysian oil industry services company is to build one of the units in Brazil with the others being constructed outside the South American energy powerhouse. SapuraCrest subsidiary TL Offshore has been handed the job of building the deep-water units and chartering them to Petrobras, all for work in Brazilian waters. Petrobras’ tender allowed for one of more locally-built vessels weighing up to 300tns, plus one or more larger 550tn units, which can be built outside Brazil. The Petrobras strategic plan outlines demand for 4000 kilo-metres of flexible pipe in the pre-salt developments.