The hibernation of the oil platform will not impact Petrobras' divestment process in the Merluza Complex and the supply of natural gas to the Baixada Santista market.
Petrobras informed in a material fact this morning (07/08), that it approved the hibernation of the Merluza oil platform, located in shallow waters in the Santos Basin. Shipbuilding: Petrobras gave up works in Brazil to lower the charter price and the Mero 3 FPSO is at risk of being built abroad.
Petrobras had already stopped the unit's oil production since March of this year, when there was an abrupt reduction in demand for natural gas.
According to the state-owned company, the hibernation of the Merluza oil platform, in the Santos Basin, will allow for a reduction in operating expenses. The oil company also informs that it will transfer the professionals to other Petrobras units.
Check out other news related to Petrobras and the oil industry
- Seven thousand jobs are at stake with the closure of the operations of the oil multinational TechnipFMC in Espírito Santo
- Petrobras earned US$37,6 million with the sale of the Dó-Ré-Mi onshore oil field, in the Sergipe lagoon, to Centro Oeste Oil and Gas
- Modec resume register with many offshore and onshore vacancies to work on oil and gas contracts in Brazil, China, Singapore and Mexico
In the report, Petrobras explains that the hibernation will not impact the Merluza Pole divestment process and the supply of natural gas to the Baixada Santista market.
“This decision is in line with the portfolio optimization strategy and the improvement of the company's capital allocation, aiming at maximizing value for its shareholders”, said the state-owned company in the statement.
About the Merluza Hub, Santos Basin – Petrobras
The Merluza Hub comprises the Merluza and Lagosta concessions, in which Petrobras has a 100% stake. Starting operations in 1993, its average production in 2019 was 3,6 barrels of oil equivalent per day of natural gas and condensate.
Currently, the Merluza and Lagosta oil fields are part of Petrobras' divestment program and are in the binding phase as announced by the state-owned company on March 31, 2020.
