Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
8 comments 
Petrobras Confirmed the Drilling of a Well in the Mouth of the Amazon with a Total Depth Exceeding 7,000 Meters, Classified Among the Most Challenging for the Company, After IBAMA License and Focusing on the Equatorial Margin, in a Context of Accelerating Projects, Operational Gains in the Quarter and Maintaining the Dividend Policy
The company announced that the well in the Mouth of the Amazon is part of its expansion strategy in the Equatorial Margin and ranks among the deepest in its history. The environmental authorization to begin operations was issued on October 20, paving the way for a campaign that combines high technical complexity, safety standards, and continuous environmental monitoring.
In the results teleconference, management highlighted that the depth exceeding 7,000 meters requires high-performance engineering solutions. The effort occurs in a quarter marked by net income of R$ 32.7 billion, an 8.1 percent increase in production, progress in sales of derivatives and exports, and an 11 percent reduction in operating expenses, even with a 13.9 percent drop in Brent.
Why the Well in the Mouth of the Amazon is Technically Challenging
The classification among the deepest results from a combination of geological, bathymetric, and operational variables.
-
Petrobras surprises the world again by announcing a new discovery in the pre-salt with excellent quality oil.
-
Offshore industrial demand in Macaé skyrockets with the recovery of oil and gas and could grow by up to 396% by 2026 in the Campos Basin.
-
Offshore industrial demand in Macaé surges with the recovery of oil and gas and could grow by up to 396% by 2026 in the Campos Basin.
-
Brazilian giant expands borders in the Southeast: Petrobras confirms new oil discovery in ultra-deep waters in the pre-salt of the Campos Basin.
Completion, drilling, and pressure control systems need to operate with narrow safety margins, taking into account pore and fracture gradients, well stability, and suitable mud windows.
In deep waters, operational windows are narrow, and the logistics of inputs, equipment, and personnel require precise synchronization.
The anticipated depth imposes real-time risk management with well data, profiles, and gas events, as well as contingency protocols for containment and response.
The instrumental package includes high-reliability BOPs, monitoring of kicks, and critical cementing for zonal integrity, preserving the viability of subsequent exploration stages.
Licensing, Safety, and Environmental Monitoring
The permission obtained from IBAMA conditions the operation to the robustness of emergency and environmental protection plans.
In projects in the Equatorial Margin, dispersion modeling, maritime surveillance, and vessel tracking are used to reduce residual risk.
Petrobras asserts that it operates with high safety standards and dedicated environmental monitoring.
Environmental management is linked to the regional learning curve, which includes geophysical surveys, oceanographic studies, and fauna observation routines.
Best practices in waste disposal, emissions, and underwater noise integrate the usual conditions.
The goal is to maintain regulatory compliance and rapid response to any occurrence.
Equatorial Margin and Exploration Portfolio
The Equatorial Margin encompasses basins with analogous oil systems to international productive provinces.
In the Mouth of the Amazon, the Exploration and Production board is projecting a campaign with eight wells, acknowledging that confirming commercial volumes may require multiple drilling cycles.
Historical experience shows that relevant discoveries may arise after multiple attempts.
In addition to the Mouth of the Amazon, the company has fronts along the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, where there have already been two discoveries that are not yet scaled for immediate production.
A new well is being drilled to evaluate accumulations, and depending on the results, form a production core in the state.
Operational Acceleration and Platform Performance
Management reinforced the directive to accelerate projects. A cited example is the P 79, which had its departure from the shipyard in Korea advanced to November 10, and the P 58, which will begin production next month.
P 70 is already operating above its nominal capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, registering 159,000 barrels per day, while capacity increase studies are also reaching P 71.
There is dialogue with IBAMA to increase production on five FPSOs, with additional potential of 115,000 barrels per day.
According to management, each 100,000 barrels per day added represents about US$ 2 billion per year in revenue, reinforcing the pursuit of opex and capex efficiency in a scenario of greater uncertainty for Brent next year.
Results, Price Risks, and Dividends
In the third quarter, the net income of R$ 32.7 billion was 0.6 percent above the same period last year, supported by higher production, sales of derivatives, and exports.
The company assesses broader risk for Brent in 2026 and, therefore, maintains portfolio reviews and investment discipline, prioritizing doing more with less.
The dividend policy has been reaffirmed. R$ 12.16 billion in ordinary dividends for the quarter is expected, of which 28.67 percent belongs to the federal government.
The directive continues to envisage a distribution of 45 percent of free cash flow when gross debt is up to US$ 75 billion, maintaining predictability for shareholders.
Next Steps and Expectations for the Well
The campaign in the Mouth of the Amazon will seek key information about the oil system, such as load maturity, migration path, and trap integrity.
The first well is a learning stage and does not define commercial viability on its own.
Drilling data, profiles, and tests will calibrate models, reducing uncertainties before decisions on additional wells.
With a depth exceeding 7,000 meters and a challenging operational window, the schedule will depend on metocean conditions, availability of drillships, and supply chain.
Exploratory success will require disciplined execution and technical-environmental governance throughout the campaign.
The well in the Mouth of the Amazon inaugurates a phase of high technical complexity in the Equatorial Margin, combining robust licensing, platform acceleration, and financial discipline.
For you, what is the biggest point of attention in this exploratory front: well depth and integrity, environmental conditioning, or Brent volatility to enable investments?
Com a inteligência artificial os cálculos e riscos dessa operação são minimizados,sem contar a experiência de engenheiros Brasileiros a anos a frente do pioneirismo nessa modalidade, parabéns a engenharia Brasileira, parabéns a todos os funcionários da Petrobras.
orgulho da engenharia Brasileira, somos pioneiros em perfuração em profundidade, tenho certeza que os riscos serão minimizados,os ambientalistas temem o pior,mas cálculos matemáticos com a ajuda de inteligência artificial, faz com que o projeto avance com toda segurança. Parabéns a todos os envolvidos, parabéns a engenharia Brasileira. VIVA O BRASIL,VIVA A PETROBRAS!
Com esses ovos de ferro, deixa o planeta em paz! 😡