Brazil pre-salt output down, natural gas up

Brazil reported a 4.6% year-on-year fall in pre-salt production to 358,800boe/d in July, according to the latest data from hydrocarbons regulator ANP. Oil comprised 296,400b/d and natural gas 9.9Mm3/d, ANP said in a statement. The watchdog cited the completion of an anticipated production system connected to the Cidade de São Vicente platform in Sapinhoá field as a key reason for the decline. Pre-salt output came from 25 wells in the fields of Baleia Azul, Caratinga, Barracuda, Jubarte, Linguado, Lula, Marlim, Voador, Marlim Leste, Pampo, Pirambu, Sapinhoá and Trilha. Meanwhile, oil production from post and pre-salt fields totaled 1.97Mb/d, down 2.4% on the same period last year. ANP blamed the lower figure on a scheduled 15-day shutdown of the P-40 platform in Marlim Sul field. Natural gas output for the month rose 10.6% year-on-year to 78.5Mm3/d.