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Petrobras reveals new oil accumulation in the pre-salt layer, strengthening Brazil as a global leader in fuel production. The discovery promises to revolutionize the sector and boost the economy.
In a move that promises to redefine the course of oil exploration in Brazil, Petrobras recently announced a significant oil discovery in a previously unexplored area of the Búzios field, located in the pre-salt layer of the Santos.
This revelation not only highlights the continued potential of Brazilian reserves, but also places the country in a prominent position on the global energy scene.
Discovery in ultra-deep waters
The new accumulation of oil, according to a statement made by Petrobras on Friday (14), was identified through well 9-BUZ-99D-RJS, located in the western portion of the Búzios field.
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The tests carried out confirmed the presence of oil at a depth of 5.600 meters, below the main reservoir already in operation.
This discovery highlights the wealth of Brazil's pre-salt layers that has not yet been fully explored.
The consortium responsible for the Búzios shared deposit is made up of Petrobras, which acts as operator with an 88,99% stake, and the Chinese companies CNOOC (7,34%) and CNPC (3,67%).
Pré-Sal Petróleo SA (PPSA) acts as the consortium manager. After confirmation of the new accumulation, the consortium will continue the analyses to determine the next steps in the area's activities.
Expansion of production in the Búzios field
In parallel with the discovery, Petrobras began operating the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, also known as Búzios 7, in the Búzios field.
This production unit has the capacity to extract up to 225 thousand barrels of oil per day and process 12 million cubic meters of gas daily.
This is the first high-capacity unit installed in the field, marking a significant advance in pre-salt exploration.
The FPSO Almirante Tamandaré is connected to 15 wells, of which seven are oil producers, six are water and gas injectors, one is convertible (which can act as a producer or injector) and one is a gas injector.
This complex underwater infrastructure aims to optimize the efficiency and productivity of resource extraction in the region.
The expectation is that, with the start of operations of this unit, the Búzios field will reach the mark of 1 million barrels of oil produced per day by the second half of 2025.
Furthermore, the field is projected to become Petrobras' largest production field, with the potential to reach 2 million barrels per day by 2030.
These ambitious goals reinforce the strategic importance of the Búzios field for the company and for the country.
National production data in 2024
According to the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), the average annual production of oil and natural gas in Brazil in 2024 was 4,322 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d).
Of this total, 3,358 million barrels per day correspond to oil production. These figures indicate stability in relation to the record reached in 2023, when production totaled 4,344 million boe/d.
The pre-salt layer continues to be the main source of these resources, representing approximately 78% of national production.
The Búzios field, located approximately 189 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, stands out as one of the largest producers in ultra-deep waters.
Since the start of its large-scale operation in March 2015, the field has already surpassed the mark of 1 billion barrels of oil produced, consolidating itself as a strategic asset for Petrobras and for Brazil.
Challenges and future prospects
According to experts, despite recent achievements, Petrobras faces significant challenges. In October 2024, the company recorded an 11% drop in oil and gas production compared to the same period the previous year.
This reduction was largely due to scheduled maintenance shutdowns on platforms in the Búzios and Tupi offshore fields.
These temporary interruptions are necessary to ensure the safety and efficiency of operations, but they impact production numbers in the short term.
Furthermore, Petrobras is committed to balancing its ambitions to expand oil production with environmental and sustainability commitments.
Brazil seeks to position itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, while also aiming to become one of the largest oil producers in the world.
This duality presents complex challenges, especially in relation to exploration projects close to the Amazon region, which raise debates between economic development and environmental preservation.
Strategic partnerships and investments
The expansion of operations in the Búzios field has also attracted international investments and partnerships.
In October 2024, the Spanish company Tubacex signed a 64,5 million euro contract with Petrobras to supply more than 80 kilometers of pipes and accessories for the offshore explorations of Sépia-2 and Atapu-2.
These components will be used to extract gas at depths of almost 2.200 meters below sea level, highlighting the complexity and sophistication of operations in the Brazilian pre-salt layer.
The commercial relationship between Tubacex and Petrobras has strengthened in recent years, especially in the Búzios field, considered one of the largest oil and gas reservoirs in the world.
With expectations of significant production expansion by 2030, partnerships like this are crucial to ensuring the supply of technology and infrastructure needed to support projected growth.
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