Petrobras discoveries

Over the last 18 months or so, Petrobras has a string of reported discoveries to its credit. Company CEO Maria das Graças Silva Foster said the 2011 discoveries alone added 1.24 billion barrels of equivalent oil to Petrobras’ numbers, with 1 billion of that coming from the pre-salt area.

The Moita Bonita well in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin in block BM-SEAL-10, found oil and gas. The well was drilled in 2775m of water. Petrobras announced the find in August 2012.

The Barra 1 extension well found oil about 30km away from the Moita Bonita well. This well found a 300m hydrocarbon column with 52m of sandstone bearing light oil, gas and condensate. Petrobras announced the find in August 2012.

The Franco SW well, which is the fourth well drilled in the transfer of rights area of the Santos Basin, found 28°API oil in 2024m of water. Petrobras announced the find in August 2012; at the time, Petrobras was still drilling ahead but had verified 295m of oil column.

The Carcará appraisal in block BM-S-8, in 2027m of water, showed 31°API oil. The well has turned up over 400m of oil column. Petrobras (66%) operates the block on behalf Petrogal Brasil (14%), Barra Energia (10%) and Queiroz Galvão E&P (10%).

The Southern Guará well, which is in the transfer of rights area, lies in 2202m of water in the Santos Basin. In August 2012, Petrobras said the well turned up a 93m column of light crude.

The Pecém accumulation in the deepwater Ceará Basin was discovered in August 2012. Located in 2129m of water, the discovery lies in BM-CE-2 concession, which Petrobras operates (60%) on behalf of BP (40%).

Petrobras found 15°API oil in the post-salt layer of block ES-M-661 of the Espírito Santo Basin. The Grana Padano well, 64km away from the Golfinho field, is in 1208m of water depth. Petrobras (40%) operates the block on behalf of partners IBV (30%) and Anadarko (30%). The operator announced the find in July 2012.

Over 700 million barrels of light crude and 3tcf of gas is in the pre-salt Pão de Açúcar area, according to block operator Repsol-Sinopec. Block BM-C-33 in the Campos Basin holds the Seat, Gávea and Pão de Açúcar discoveries. The Pão de Açúcar well was drilled in 2800m water depth and encountered 500m of hydrocarbon column with about 350m of reservoirs. Block partner Petrobras said the Pão de Açúcar well confirms the potential of block BM-C-33. Petrobras E&P director José Miranda Formigli has said the find of over 700 million barrels of recoverables at ‘Pão de Açúcar was responsible for the opening of a new frontier in the pre-salt oil province’. The find, initially reported in February 2012, is operated by Repsol-Sinopec (35%) on behalf of Statoil (35%) and Petrobras (30%).

In April 2012, BG said the Iara West appraisal well in 2150m water depth encountered 21-26°API oil in the pre-salt carbonate reservoirs. The well is the third drilled in the Iara area. Petrobras operates block BM-S-11 holding Iara with 65% interest on behalf of BG (25%) and Galp Energia (10%).

The April 2012 discovery Dolomita Sul pushes the potential of the pre-salt region beyond initial expectations, according to Petrobras. The Dolomita Sul well, drilled north of the Lula field in the Santos Basin in 1747m of water, has initially confirmed oil via cable test oil sampling in the pre-salt carbonate reservoirs. Petrobras operates the concession with 100%.

Petrobras found 31°API oil in March 2012 with the Carcará drilled in the Bem-te-vi prospect in 2027m water depth in the Santos Basin. Petrobras (66%) operates the block on behalf of Petrogal Brasil (14%), Barra Energia do Brasil Petróleo e Gás (10%) and Queiroz Galvão Exploração e Produção (10%).

A second well drilled after the execution of the transfer of rights agreement with the ANP, Brazil’s national oil, natural gas and biofuels agency, confirmed the discovery of good quality oil in the area known as Tupi Northeast, in the Santos Basin pre-salt.

The 1-BRSA-976-RJS well drilled northeast of the Lula field in a water depth of 2131m found 26°API oil. This March 2012 discovery had located an oil column over 290m in thickness in the pre-salt carbonate reservoirs when Petrobras announced the find in the transfer of rights area.

The platform SS-11 Atlantic Zephyr takes first oil from the Tiro and Sídon areas through an extended well test in 2010 in the Santos Basin. In February 2012, Petrobras declared the pair of fields commercial. The accumulations were renamed Bauna and Piracaba. The fields, located in block BM-S-40, are in shallow water. Petrobras, which operates with 100%, estimates total recoverables of 113.4 million boe of 34°API oil for Bauna and 83.1 million boe of 32°API oil for Piracaba. At this development, Petrobras expects to see first oil this month, with production peaking in January 2014.

Drilled in 2149m of water about 4.5km from the discovery well, Carioca Sela recovered 27°API in block BM-S-9. Petrobras (45%) operates the block on behalf of partners BG Group (30%) and Repsol Sinopec Brasil (25%).

Franco NW, drilled in 1860m of water, found 28°API oil, Petrobras reported in February 2012. The well is the first drilled following the transfer of rights agreement.

In January 2012, the Tambuatá well found natural gas and light oil in 1520m water depth. The find, 7km from FPSO Cidade de Vitória on the eastern side of Golfinho field, was drilled as part of Petrobras’ Varredura project, designed to bolster the production of hydrocarbons in new discoveries close to existing production systems.

At Biguá, Petrobras reported in November 2011 finding 25°API in 2180m of water. The well is in block BM-S-8. Petrobras (66%) operates the block on behalf of Petrogal (14%), Barra Energia do Brasil Petróleo e Gás (10%) and Queiroz Galvão Exploração e Produção (10%).

The Tucura well, in 523m of water, turned up 20°API oil in the post salt. Located 3km from the Marlin field in the Campos Basin, Tucura is also part of the Varredura project. Petrobras reported the discovery in November 2011.

Also in November 2011, Petrobras found good quality oil with the Patola well in 299m of water in the south Santos Basin. Located in the area known as Tiro and Sídon, the new well turned up 36°API oil.

The Abaré well in the Carioca area of block BM-S-9 located 28°API oil in November 2011. Petrobras (45%) operates the block on behalf of BG (30%) and Repsol Sinopec (25%).

Malombe well in 980m water depth found oil in block ES-M-414, operator Petrobras (88.1%) announced in November 2011. Repsol Sinopec holds the remaining interest.

Petrobras’ pre-salt Baleia Azul field in the Campos Basin sent first oil to the SBM-operated FPSO Cidade de Anchieta on 10 September.

The Barra well, in 2341m of water, found 32°API oil in a lower interval and 43º API oil in an upper interval. The well was drilled in block SEAL -M-426 in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin by operator Petrobras (60%) on behalf of IBV (40%). Petrobras announced the find in September 2011.

Petrobras reported the Pé de Moleque and Quindim finds in 1900m of water in the Espírito Santo Basin in July 2011. The finds were in block ES-M-525.

The Gávea discovery in 2708m of water depth was reported in June 2011. Repsol Sinopec (35%) operates the consortium on behalf of Statoil (35%) and Petrobras (30%).

The Brigadeiro discovery in the Cretaceous reservoirs of the Espírito Santo Basin was reported in June 2011. Drilled in 1900m of water in block ES-M-525, the well is operated by Petrobras (65%) on behalf of Shell (20%) and Inpex (15%).

Petrobras announced a new pre-salt oil accumulation in the Albacora field in 380m of water. According to Petrobras’ April 2011 report, preliminary volume estimates were 350 million barrels of light oil.

The Iara Horst well in block BM-S-11 confirmed the reservoir’s 28°API oil quality, which Petrobras (65%) reported on behalf of partners BG Group (25%) and Galp Energia (10%) in March 2011.

The Macunaíma well in 2134m of water discovered 26°API oil in the pre-salt Santos Basin, Petrobras reported in February 2011. Petrobras (65%) operates on behalf of partners BG Group (25%) and Partex Brasil (10%).

The Carioca Nordeste well in 2151m of water turned up 26°API oil in the pre-salt reservoirs of block BM-S-9. Petrobras (45%), which operates the concession on behalf of BG (30%) and Repsol (25%), announced the results – which includes 250m of good quality reservoir – in January 2011.