While Brazil discussed the transition, Petrobras unlocked 11 new platforms in the pre-salt until 2027 — Búzios alone receives 6 FPSOs and targets 1 million barrels/day.

Written by Douglas Avila

Published on 17/05/2026 at 18:03

Updated on 17/05/2026 at 18:04

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Updated strategic plan foresees six FPSOs only in the giant Búzios field — P-80 and P-82 to start operations still in 2026, with a goal to reach 1 million barrels/day just in the field.

Petrobras has unlocked one of the largest offshore expansion cycles in its history. According to Petrobras Agency, the company will install 11 new platforms in the pre-salt by 2027.

The absolute highlight goes to the Búzios field, in the Santos Basin. According to Agência Brasil, this field alone will receive six FPSOs from the package.

Moreover, the schedule is tight. The P-80 and P-82 platforms will start operations still in 2026. The P-83 will complete the cycle in 2027, along with the revitalization of the Campos Basin.

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What are the 11 new platforms in the pre-salt

The official list, consolidated based on statements from Petrobras, Agência Brasil, and ANP, clearly defines where each FPSO will operate:

FPSO Almirante Tamandaré (Búzios) — capacity of 225 thousand barrels/day, entered in 2024
P-78 and P-79 (Búzios) — about 180-200 thousand barrels/day each, in 2025
P-80 and P-82 (Búzios) — 225 thousand barrels/day each, entry in 2026
P-83 (Búzios) — 225 thousand barrels/day, in 2027
FPSO Sepetiba (Mero) — 180 thousand barrels/day, already in operation
Two additional units in Mero by 2025
FPSO Maria Quitéria (Jubarte, Campos Basin) — 100 thousand barrels/day, 2025
New FPSO for the revitalization of Albacora (Campos Basin) — 120 thousand barrels/day, 2027

According to Petrobras, the Búzios FPSOs follow the latest generation standard. Each can compress 12 million m³ of natural gas per day.

Why Búzios became the star of the pre-salt

Búzios is located 180 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, in a water depth of 2,000 meters. The wells reach more than 5,000 meters below the seabed.

The field already operates with five FPSOs in production: P-74, P-75, P-76, P-77, and Almirante Barroso. Therefore, with the six new units, Búzios will have 11 simultaneous FPSOs by 2027.

FPSO deck with pipelines: details of new platforms in the pre-salt — Topside of a latest generation FPSO: processing towers, ducts, and manifolds

According to CNN Brasil, Búzios has already set a record of 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. On the other hand, the state company’s goal is to double this volume.

In other words, Petrobras wants to reach 2 million barrels/day in Búzios in the coming years. It would be one of the largest offshore fields on the planet.

According to the Brazilian Navy in an official presentation, Búzios has the potential to be the seventh largest offshore field in the world. It is the crown jewel of the national pre-salt.

Schedule of new platforms in the pre-salt

The year 2026 is the densest in the plan. Two giant platforms in Búzios will enter simultaneously: P-80 in mid-year and P-82 shortly after.

According to Seu Dinheiro, Petrobras has been anticipating the start of production of platforms in the pre-salt. The pace is the most aggressive in recent history.

Brazilian shipyard building FPSO for new platforms in the pre-salt — National shipyard integrating FPSO platform modules destined for the pre-salt

Already in 2027, the package closes with the P-83 in Búzios and the new FPSO for the revitalization of Albacora, in the Campos Basin. The latter operates on the boundary between post-salt and pre-salt.

According to Casa Civil, in May 2026, the P-79 started operations. The Brazilian government has celebrated the pace of expansion.

What Magda Chambriard, Petrobras president, says

The president of the state company, Magda Chambriard, has emphasized in interviews that the pre-salt continues to be the “cash generation engine” of Petrobras. Therefore, the focus of the plan is to maximize Búzios, Mero, and Tupi.

According to G1’s coverage, the 2026-2030 plan kept the pre-salt as an absolute priority. The area will receive the largest share of investments.

In other words, even with discussions about energy transition, the state company’s bet is to continue increasing production. Therefore, the package of 11 platforms remains untouched.

Impact on Brazil: production, royalties, and jobs

When all platforms are operating, in 2027, Petrobras expects to reach 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day just in the pre-salt. This represents 78% of the company’s total.

According to PPSA, the federal agency managing pre-salt contracts, the Union’s royalties continue to grow. States like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo receive significant shares.

Petrobras operator on new platforms in the pre-salt — Operational team on FPSO deck: each platform requires hundreds of direct jobs

Similarly, each FPSO employs hundreds of people directly. Therefore, there is also indirect employment in national shipyards and the supply chain.

In other words, the pre-salt continues to be the main engine of the national oil economy. The expansion consolidates Brazil among the top 10 global producers.

The risks of the schedule

Despite the optimism, there are concrete risks. First, delays in shipyards are common in offshore projects. The P-78 and P-79 have already undergone schedule revisions.

Therefore, OPEC+ has revised downward the global demand projection. According to a recent news, the cartel reduced the forecast for 2026 but increased it for 2027.

According to industry analysts, the barrel price needs to stay above US$ 70 to ensure economic return. Prices below this pressure new investment decisions.

Geopolitics of Brazilian oil

Still, according to Agência Brasil, Petrobras seeks to increase production to mitigate the effects of global geopolitical tensions. The international scenario pressures supply.

Brazil occupies a strategic position. On the other hand, the country has confirmed reserves for decades and can partially offset reductions in supply from other producing poles.

In other words, the package of new platforms in the pre-salt is not just a corporate plan. It is aligned industrial policy and energy geopolitics.

What is to come until 2030

According to the 2026-2030 business plan, released in November 2025, Petrobras is considering contracting six more FPSOs after 2027. The next cycle would target 2028-2032.

Therefore, the Brazilian naval sector is experiencing a moment of expectation. Shipyards like Rio Grande, Maraguape, and Brasa are competing for future orders.

It is worth remembering an important caveat. The pace depends on external variables. The price of oil, OPEC+ decisions, accelerated energy transition, and exchange rates can alter the schedule at any time.

However, in the short term, the already contracted package is in the execution phase. The next deliveries, in 2026, will determine if the state company maintains the commitment of 3.1 million boed in 2027.

Will the pre-salt ensure Brazil’s long-term energy security, or are we betting high on an asset that may become stranded due to the global transition?

While Brazil discussed the transition, Petrobras unlocked 11 new platforms in the pre-salt until 2027 — Búzios alone receives 6 FPSOs and targets 1 million barrels/day.

Updated strategic plan foresees six FPSOs only in the giant Búzios field — P-80 and P-82 to start operations still in 2026, with a goal to reach 1 million barrels/day just in the field.

What are the 11 new platforms in the pre-salt

Why Búzios became the star of the pre-salt

Schedule of new platforms in the pre-salt

What Magda Chambriard, Petrobras president, says

Impact on Brazil: production, royalties, and jobs

The risks of the schedule

Geopolitics of Brazilian oil

What is to come until 2030

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While Brazil discussed the transition, Petrobras unlocked 11 new platforms in the pre-salt until 2027 — Búzios alone receives 6 FPSOs and targets 1 million barrels/day.

Updated strategic plan foresees six FPSOs only in the giant Búzios field — P-80 and P-82 to start operations still in 2026, with a goal to reach 1 million barrels/day just in the field.

What are the 11 new platforms in the pre-salt

Why Búzios became the star of the pre-salt

Schedule of new platforms in the pre-salt

What Magda Chambriard, Petrobras president, says

Impact on Brazil: production, royalties, and jobs

The risks of the schedule

Geopolitics of Brazilian oil

What is to come until 2030

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

A Chinese factory in Guangdong is assembling a humanoid robot every 30 minutes while Tesla, Figure, and Boston Dynamics still struggle to deliver 10 thousand per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

Secret chamber sealed 4,500 years ago found in the Pyramid of Khufu, and Hawass announces its opening to the world in 2026

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

Germany installed vertical solar panels on a lake in Bavaria, and the result broke conventional logic: instead of producing energy at midday peak, the plant generates more early in the morning and in the evening, exactly when families turn on appliances and factories are in full swing.

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