Petrobras said production has started at the FPSO unit, boosting production from the Lula pre-salt in the Santos Basin

Petrobras received the first oil from the P-67 floating production, storage and offloading unit in the Lula pre-salt development in the Santos Basin. The state-owned company said this Friday that the FPSO was installed in the BM-S-11 block, operated by Petrobras with a 65% stake, in partnership with Shell (25%) and Petrogal Brasil, a joint venture between Galp and China. . Sinopec, with a 10% stake.

The P-67 is part of a series of highly standardized or “replicant” FPSOs that Petrobras has ordered from Brazilian shipyards to increase production in the pre-salt fields in the concession.

Each of the replicating units has the capacity to produce 150.000 barrels of oil and 6 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.

Despite some delays, such as the wait for environmental licenses for the FPSO P-66 – now producing at full capacity in the Lula field and recent problems with the P-67 after an inspection revealed a defect in the flare tower, requiring remediation of the work. Petrobras is still seeking to reach the production level of 1,1 million barrels of oil in the Lula-Cernambi development.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Petrobras paid US$682,6 million as part of non-penalty agreements entered into last year with US and Brazilian authorities.

The agreement, which does not amount to a confession or acknowledgment by Petrobras, is about the investigation of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

The proceeds will be deposited by Petrobras into a special fund in Brazil to be used in various social and educational programs to promote transparency, citizenship and compliance in the public sector.