Brazil’s Petrobras marked 15 years of pre-salt offshore production this month and unveiled intentions to deploy 11 new production platforms in the basin by 2027.
Since December 2022, Petrobras initiated operations on the P-71 platform at the Itapu field and the FPSO Almirante Barroso in the Búzios field, in the Santos Basin. Petrobras will be commissioning a third FPSO, Sepetiba, in the Mero field, by the end of the year.
Petrobras’ updated Strategic Plan for 2023 to 2027 now allocates US$64 billion for exploration and production investments, with 67% earmarked for presalt projects. By 2027, Petrobras anticipates that Brazil’s overall presalt production will reach 3.6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (MMboe/d).
The Búzios field reached a cumulative production of one billion barrels of oil equivalent (Bboe) since its startup five years ago. This is compared to the 11 years it took the Marlim field in the Campos Basin and nine years for Tupi in the presalt Santos Basin to reach the same production volume.
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The Búzios field currently has five FPSOs in operation, with an additional six set to come online within the next four years. These include Almirante Tamandaré (2024); P-78 and P-79 (both 2025); P-80 and P-82 (both 2026), and P-83 (2027).
Meanwhile, Petrobras said Mero, located in the Libra Block in the Santos Basin, has been producing through the FPSO Pioneiro de Libra’s SPA 2 early production system and the FPSO Guanabara, with a capacity of 180,000 barrels per day (bbl/d). FPSO Sepetiba, set to join the Mero operation, will add another 180,000 bbl/d, and two additional FPSOs are scheduled to come online at Mero by 2025.
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Petrobras said it continues to grow its presalt production in the Campos Basin. The FPSO Maria Quitéria will be installed in the Jubarte field by 2025. Petrobras is also actively upgrading its mature assets in the Campos Basin to expand production capacity.
The Albacora field, which celebrated 35 years of operation last year, is on track to receive a new FPSO with a capacity of 120,000 bbl/d by 2027 as part of the Albacora Revitalisation project. This FPSO will be capable of operating in both the post-salt and presalt areas.
