Petrobras has begun an exploratory drilling campaign in block FZA-M-059, located in deep waters off Amapá, as part of efforts to determine the oil and gas potential of Brazil’s Equatorial Margin.
Petrobras announced on Monday that the well, positioned about 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River and 175 kilometers off the coast, will be drilled over an estimated five-month period. The rig is already at the site, and operations have started.
Petrobras stated that the objective is to obtain more geological information and assess whether there is oil and gas in the area on an economic scale. The company noted that this phase is purely exploratory, with no oil production planned.
President Magda Chambriard said the drilling marks the culmination of a five-year process involving close coordination with local, state, and federal agencies. “We will operate in the Equatorial Margin with safety, responsibility and technical quality,” she stated. “We hope to obtain excellent results in this research and prove the existence of oil in the Brazilian portion of this new world energy frontier.”
The company emphasized that it met all environmental and technical requirements set by Ibama, including a Pre-Operational Evaluation conducted in August to validate Petrobras’ emergency response and environmental protection measures.
Petrobras said the exploration aligns with its strategy to responsibly develop new frontiers that can contribute to Brazil’s energy security and support a just energy transition.
