French oil giant Total announced on Friday first oil from the Iara license (Block BM-S-11A), located in the deepwater Santos Basin pre-salt in Brazil.
According to a press release from the company, this development marks the start-up of the P-68, the first of the two floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSO) already launched and to be installed on the license. The release said that the second, the P-70, is expected to come on stream in 2020. Total said each unit has a capacity of 150,000 barrels of oil per day.
“First oil from Iara is a new milestone for Total in Brazil. It increases our share of production from the highly prolific pre-salt area, adding to current output from the Total-operated Lapa field, and the extended well tests under way on the Mero field,” Arnaud Breuillac, President Exploration & Production at Total is quoted in the release as saying.
The release said that the Iara license comprises the Sururu, Berbigão and Oeste de Atapu fields.
On January 12, 2018 as part of the strategic alliance with Petrobras, Total acquired a working interest of 22.5% in Block BM-S-11A becoming a partner alongside operator Petrobras (42.5%), Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda. (25%) and Petrogal Brasil S.A. (10%).
In Guyana, Qatar Petroleum is moving to control 40% of the company holding Total’s existing 25% stake in the Orinduik and Kanuku blocks – adjacent to the prolific Stabroek Block. Total is said to be retaining the remaining 60% of the company.
