Discoveries, Confirmations , Production Start-ups and…Safety
discoveriesconfirmationsproductionstartupsandsafety
The oil industry in Brazil finishes the year with intense activity on all fronts and the efforts are massive. However the risks taken on the deepwater projects and older production rigs may still lead to major spills if not kept in check.
Petrobras recently discovered light oil in sandstones reservoirs in the post-salt section of the Espírito Santo Basin. The discovery was the result of the drilling of the 1-BRSA-882-ESS well, known as Indra, located within the BM-ES-32 Block. Petrobras holds a 60% stake and is the operator, Statoil holds the remaining 40%. It is located 140 km from the city of Vitória and was drilled to approximately 3,850 m, from a water depth of approximately 2,100 m, and is the deepest oil discovery at Espírito Santo Basin. Preliminary estimates suggest that the oil ranges from 25º to 30º API, with quality similar to the oil discovered in Golfinho Field, which is approximately 70 km away. Ongoing tests will determine volumes, extent and productivity of these reservoirs.
Petrobras also reported that the drilling of the 11th of 13 wells scheduled for the Tupi/Iracema area confirmed the light oil potential of the pre-salt reservoirs in ultra-deep Santos Basin waters. The new well, called Tupi W, was drilled from a water depth of 2,139 meters, nearly 275 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro and 11 km northeast of well 1-RJS-628A (1-BRSA-369A), which was the original Tupi discovery. It proved that the light oil accumulation (about 28ºAPI) extends to the far west of the Tupi Evaluation Plan and verified a reservoir thickness of about 90 meters, further reducing the uncertainties regarding the estimated volume of hydrocarbons for the Tupi/Iracema area. The information obtained from the wells drilled in the area confirms the potential of 5 to 8 billion barrels of recoverable light oil in the Tupi area.
These are just two examples of the intensity and importance of what is happening along the Brazilian offshore. There are a great number of wells being drilled and many fields also starting up, as they all promise increased riches, they also demand increased monitoring and stringent safety regulations. Quoting a very experienced Brazilian drilling inspector I spoke to, “It is fundamental to fall all the drilling procedures, not take shortcuts and use the specified equipment, if there is to be any chance to prevent major accidents and spills”. The problems may be compounded by the intensity of the overall offshore E&P in Brazil.
Claudio Paschoa
Paschoa, Claudio
Claudio Paschoa is Marine Technology Reporter's correspondent in Brazil.
Email: [email protected]
February 2024
