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The natural gas potential in the Campos Basin was notified to the ANP by Shell
Shell, one of the main oil companies in the world, notified the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) about a promising discovery of traces of natural gas in a well in the Campos Basin, one of the most important regions for the oil and gas industry in Brazil.
The well, called 1-SHEL-35A-RJS, is located in the CM-659 block, in a water depth of 2.940 meters in the Campos Basin. According to PetroNotícias, this discovery of natural gas by Shell was made using the Maersk Developer rig, a vessel specialized in exploration and drilling operations in deep waters.
Strategic acquisition of the block by Shell in partnership with other oil and gas giants
Shell acquired the CM-659 block during the 16th ANP Bidding Round, held in October 2019. The acquisition of the block in the Campos Basin was made for an amount of BRL 714 million, evidencing the company's commitment to invest in the exploration of new oil areas in Brazil.
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Shell acts as operator of the CM-659 block with a 40% stake. The company has a solid partnership in this undertaking, with Chevron holding a 35% stake and QPI (Qatar Petroleum International) holding the remaining 25%. This strategic collaboration brings together the knowledge and experience of several leading oil and gas companies to explore the potential of the Campos Basin.
Environmental license and next steps for Shell
The drilling of the well was authorized by Ibama, which issued a specific environmental license for this activity. The authorization allows Shell to build up to six wells in the Campos Basin block, one of which is firm and the other five contingent. In addition, the oil company has the option of carrying out up to four formation tests in the area, a crucial step in assessing the commercial viability of the discovery.
The discovery of evidence of natural gas in the 1-SHEL-35A-RJS well is an important milestone for Shell and its partners, consolidating its commitment to the responsible and sustainable exploitation of energy resources in Brazil. The result of this well in the Campos Basin is an initial step towards assessing the potential of the area and, if subsequent studies confirm its viability, it could significantly contribute to the supply of natural gas in the country, strengthening the Brazilian energy industry.
