Brazil's Petrobras drilling 2 new offshore wells

Petrobras has begun drilling two new wells off Brazil’s coast, according to oil and gas watchdog ANP.  

Using Transocean’s Deepwater Aquila rig, the state-run firm is drilling the wildcat well 1-RJS-761 in the Norte de Brava block, in the Campos basin, in 575m of water depth. 

Norte de Brava was acquired by Petrobras at ANP’s first production-sharing open acreage tender in 2022, with a 100% interest. The signature bonus paid for the asset was 512mn reais (currently US$83.6mn). 

Meanwhile, Petrobras is sinking well 4-SPS-112 in the Aram block in the Santos basin pre-salt. The work is being conducted in waters 1,757m deep with the Valaris DS-4 rig. 

Petrobras acquired Aram in partnership with China’s CNODC during an ANP bidding round in 2019, with a 5bn-real signature bonus.

The federal oil giant found hydrocarbon traces in Aram in November 2021 and May 2023, according to ANP.

Petrobras’ plans also include exploratory wells adjacent to the Albacora and Marlim Sul fields, and drilling in the Água Marinha and C-M-477 blocks. It also intends to drill two delimitation wells in Alto de Cabo Frio Central and four in Aram.

In the Equatorial Margin, the main goals are the drilling of a wildcat well in Foz do Amazonas, which depends on an environmental license from regulator Ibama, and assessing the discoveries made in the Potiguar basin.