In order to revitalize its onshore fields, the state-owned company needs companies that have the technology for this purpose.
Schlumberger and Halliburton, giant service providers in the field of oil exploration, are in the fight for a tender launched by Petrobras in May this year for technological development to revitalize onshore fields, more specifically in the Potiguar Basin, in the Canto do Amaro hub, located in Rio Grande do Norte. According to the contract notice, the current period of development of the operations will be 15 years, with the purpose of extracting the maximum possible from these assets, maximizing the percentage of oil recovery, since these fields are also mature.
According to Petrobras, the winning company will be remunerated according to the results that its technologies will bring back to the state-owned company. Remembering that in addition to Schlumberger and Halliburton, other companies may participate in the bidding.
The press office of Petrobras told Reuters on July 5th that it is the first time that it uses this type of business, the provision of services based on the contribution of technology, it may open new precedents in this pattern in the future.
The winning company will bear all the costs of operations and maintenance of the wells drilled by them, including abandonment. But despite this, Petrobras will continue to own these fields as operator and other costs of production activities. This new business methodology can increase the state-owned company's cash and maximize productivity in mature fields, without jeopardizing its capital, which is already scarce these days.
Reuters announced that both Schlumberger and Halliburton are already preparing proposals for this project, but did not comment on details. The two service providers currently have the best expertise in this niche market, in addition to winning several international awards.
Update – On August 19, 2018, Petrobras announced that it will produce the Urucu onshore oil field in the Amazon Basin for another 30 years.
Petrobras says there will be production for another 30 years in Urucu
