Petrobras set to widen FPSO pipeline with new oil field

Brazil's Petrobras is moving toward adding one more FPSO platform vessel to its already substantial FPSO pipeline.

On Friday (May 15), the state-owned company announced that the Aram block, in the pre-salt of the Santos basin, should be declared commercial and that its development will probably require a new production unit.

The current Petrobras business plan (BP) for 2026–2030 includes 19 FPSOs, of which 10 are already contracted: Almirante Tamandaré, Alexandre de Gusmão, P-78 and P-79, which have already started operating, and P-80, P-82, P-83, P-84 and P-85, which are under construction.

As previously reported by BNamericas, the oil company plans to sign, between 2026 and 2027, six FPSO contracts, for units P-81 and P-87 – whose contracts are about to be signed with SBM –, P-91, Albacora, Extension of Mero and Revitalization of Tupi, all with first oil expected from 2031 onwards.

The other three platforms included in the PN 2026-2030 are intended for the Marlim Sul/Leste projects (P-86), Barracuda/Caratinga and the Integrated South Complex Parque das Baleias (ICSPB), also scheduled for after 2031.

The Aram block was acquired in March 2020, in the 6th bidding round of the ANP, under the production sharing regime, with Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA) as manager. Petrobras is the operator of the block and holds an 80% stake, in partnership with CNPC (20%).

Since 2021, Petrobras has recorded seven notifications of indications of oil in Aram with the ANP, in water depths ranging from 1,758m to 1,979m.

For Marcelo de Assis, a partner at the consultancy MA2Energy, the block is one of those with the greatest potential in the country, with a structure similar to that of the Búzios and Tupi fields.

(The original version of this content was written in Portuguese)