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Environmental Licensing Process for Drilling Projects of Seven Wells in the Amazon River Mouth Basin Resumed by Oil and Gas Multinational Total, After Conflicts with Ibama
The oil exploration and production projects in the Amazon River Mouth Basin are unique and have shown great demand for data and information from Ibama (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources). After the decision to deny the drilling license for Total, still in 2018, the oil company was forced to restart the environmental licensing process for drilling wells in the Amazon.
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At the time, Ibama reported that Total was not able to demonstrate that offshore drilling would have technical and operational safety, citing “deep uncertainties” related to the Individual Emergency Plan (PEI).
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Now, Total has initiated a new environmental licensing process for the drilling of seven exploratory wells in the Amazon River Mouth Basin, in the following blocks: FZA-M-57, FZA-M-86, FZA-M-88, FZA-M-125, and FZA-M-127.
In the 11th bidding round held by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) in 2013, the oil and gas companies that won blocks planned to drill a total of 12 wells in the Amazon River Mouth Basin, with Total alone estimating to drill nine wells in the area where it operates five blocks. BP and Enauta are also licensing drilling projects in the area.
Pressure on Oil Exploration and Production Projects in the Amazon River Mouth Basin
In addition to the studies to minimize environmental risks by Ibama, the exploration projects in the Amazon River Mouth face strong resistance from environmentalists. The licensing processes are monitored by environmental preservation organizations, such as Greenpeace.
In light of the pending issues and situations concerning environmental licensing for drilling oil wells in the Amazon River Mouth Basin, the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) removed the exploratory blocks that were to be offered in the region from the 15th bidding round held in 2018.
