Abstract As PETROBRAS develops its deepwater projects. more and more DP units are used on different applications like drilling. completion, intervention and pipeline handling, The increasing complexity of the operations has been considered in a program entitled 'DP-PS' (Safety Program For Dynamic Positioning Operations) in order to minimize the risks of failures which could lead to serious accidents on subsea and surface installations as well as to the DP vessels. This paper briefly presents the DP-PS. consisted of a group of related projects considering different aspects of DP operations, like: Vessels Incidents Databank, Emergency Disconnection Procedures. Risk Comparison, DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) application, Well Control Equipment and Standard Procedures. Testing Programs and Guidelines for DP Operations. The high number of DP contractors operating in Brazil and the atmosphere of cooperation in which the program has been developed was a key factor for its success, As a result, the number of DP incidents has remarkably decrease. Introduction Since it is a quite new activity all over the world there are several concerns related to production in deepwater, ranging from tedmology and related costs to lack of adequate material and equipment resourees, Among them, a key point is the must of conducting the operations un&r a reasonable safety level. This issue turned to be more important considering the characteristics of DP (Dynmnic Positioning) rigs and its application on development tasks which should occur inside restricted areas, different from normally isolated exploration wells. In December 84 the first program in Campos Basin. DP unit started an exploratory Since then, the DP fleet has increased and for next year eleven units are planned to be simultaneously working. mainly involved on the development plan of Marlin and other deepwater fields. Some particular initiatives have been taken since that beginning, Among these initiatives there was a particular care about disconnection procedures and well control policies. Anticipating the new development phase, PETROBRAS established an integrated program which should verify the main safety aspects related to DP equipment application named DP-PS (In Portuguese: DP- Programa de Seguranca). Program build-up In 1992, a group of DP rigs arrived in Campos Basin, stepping up to five the number of DP contractors. Brazilian waters became a unique play where so many DP rigs were operating at the same time, bringing the possibility of speeding up the development of operational know-how. A group of experienced skills in deepwater operations were put together to raise ideas that could enhance safety, A brainstorm session took place and. in sequence, some principles were applied to the proposed ideas: Firstly, the program should focus on important matters from the point of view of the man on board the unit.