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End of oil? No way! Petrobras extends the lifespan of its first large pre-salt platform

Written by Alisson Ficher
Published 22/01/2025 às 20:47
Petrobras extends the useful life of the Cidade de Angra dos Reis platform until 2030, ensuring more oil production and energy security.
Petrobras extends the useful life of the Cidade de Angra dos Reis platform until 2030, ensuring more oil production and energy security.

By extending the useful life of the Cidade de Angra dos Reis platform, Petrobras is ensuring more oil for Brazil and strengthening its global position in the energy sector. The decision to extend operations until 2030 reflects the company’s commitment to the safety and efficiency of pre-salt production.

In a strategic decision that promises to directly impact the production of oil from Brazil, Petrobras has just announced the extension of the useful life of its first large pre-salt platform, the Cidade de Angra dos Reis.

Petrobras, one of the largest energy companies in the world, revealed this Wednesday (22) that the platform, which has been operating since 2010 in the Santos Basin, will have its operation extended for another five years.

The news comes at a time when Brazil is increasingly becoming a world leader in pre-salt oil production.

Extended platform life: what does it entail?

According to website Agência Brasil, the platform ship Cidade de Angra dos Reis, the first to operate on a large scale in the pre-salt fields of the Santos Basin, has more than 50 thousand barrels of daily production, a true force in the sector.

The decision to extend its useful life until 2030 was taken after an addendum to the charter contract with the companies Tupi Pilot MV 22 BV and Modec Serviços de Petróleo do Brasil Ltda.

This measure not only ensures the continuity of production but also reflects Petrobras' ability to maintain the integrity of the platform, increase production efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming.

What many people don't know, however, is that pre-salt represents more than just a simple oil reserve.

It is an oil field located 5 meters below the ocean surface, where the oil reservoirs are at depths of 7 meters, the equivalent of more than 21 times the height of Sugarloaf Mountain.

These operations are not only challenging from a technical point of view, but also represent a great opportunity for Brazil to further consolidate itself as a world power in energy production.

The extension and its impacts on the oil market

The extension of the platform's useful life until 2030 was detailed in a statement by Petrobras and, according to the company, the decision is in line with the 2025-2029 Business Plan.

The consortium that operates the Tupi Field, formed by Petrobras (with 67,2% of the shares), Shell (23%) and Petrogal (9,2%), aims to guarantee the continuity of operations in the Tupi field, one of the most profitable and with the greatest production capacity in Brazil.

The measure not only guarantees more oil for Brazil, but also contributes to the country's energy security and the maintenance of Brazil's leading role in the global energy scenario.

In recent years, Petrobras has demonstrated a commitment to expanding its operations, even in the face of global energy crises and constant changes in the market.

The role of the Santos basin in the global oil scenario

The Brazilian pre-salt, more specifically the Santos Basin, is considered one of the largest oil reservoirs in the world. The success of the Cidade de Angra dos Reis platform is just a reflection of the potential of this area.

According to recent data from the National Petroleum Agency (ANP), in 2024, oil production in Brazil reached 36,9 million barrels per day, with 71,5% of this production coming from pre-salt.

This data is a milestone for Brazil, which has become the main oil exporter in Latin America and the largest oil producer on the continent.

In addition to the Santos Basin, the country also has operations in the Campos Basin, which also plays a fundamental role in national production.

Decommissioning: what happens when the platform reaches the end of its useful life?

As impressive as the Cidade de Angra dos Reis platform is, like all large equipment, it will also reach the end of its useful life.

Decommissioning, which is the process of definitively interrupting the platform's operations, will take place in 2030, as stated by Petrobras.

This process occurs when the productive capacity of the fields begins to decrease, making operations economically unviable.

In the case of the City of Angra dos Reis, the decommissioning will be the final chapter in a success story in the Brazilian pre-salt layer. Oil exploration and production operations in the pre-salt layer require a high level of sophistication and continuous investment in technology, infrastructure and safety.

Prospects for the future of pre-salt and Petrobras

With the extension of the useful life of the Cidade de Angra dos Reis platform, Brazil gains time to continue consolidating itself as a major oil producer.

The prospects for the future of the Brazilian pre-salt are promising, with new technologies and investments being constantly applied to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

The pre-salt is not only a valuable asset for Petrobras, but also a decisive factor for Brazil's energy security and the country's economic growth.

The continuity of operations such as that of the City of Angra dos Reis is crucial to maintaining Brazil's competitiveness in the global oil market.

The fight for Brazil's black gold

Petrobras is no longer just a national giant. With the expansion of its pre-salt operations and the extension of the useful life of its platforms, the company is solidifying itself as a global power in the energy market.

What does the future hold for Brazil when it comes to oil? The answer may surprise you.

Do you think Brazil will continue to stand out as a leader in the global oil market or will this be the beginning of the end for pre-salt platforms? Leave your opinion in the comments!

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Luiz cl botelho
Luiz cl botelho
30/01/2025 13:13

The exploration of the equatorial belt by Petrobras and in partnership with other large American oil companies “Is an order”. Otherwise the economy of all the Americas will collapse in the (very!) near future! Holy shit!

Alisson Ficher

Journalist graduated in 2017 and working in the field since 2015, with six years of experience in print magazines, stints on broadcast TV channels and over 12 online publications. Specialist in politics, jobs, economics, courses, among other topics. Professional registration: 0087134/SP. If you have any questions, want to report an error or suggest a topic on the topics covered on the site, please contact us by email: alisson.hficher@outlook.com. We do not accept resumes!

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