Petrobras announces oil discovery on Brazilian Equatorial Margin
Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras on Tuesday (Apr. 9) announced the discovery of an accumulation of oil in the ultra-deep waters of the Potiguar Basin. This confirmation came from the Anhangá exploratory well, situated near the boundary of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte states, along the Brazilian Equatorial Margin. The oil accumulation was found at a depth of 2,196 meters, approximately 190 km from Fortaleza and 250 km from Natal.
This marks Petrobras' second discovery in the Potiguar Basin this year. Prior to this, the company had confirmed the presence of oil in the Pitu Oeste well, located approximately 24 km from Anhangá. "Further assessment is necessary for these discoveries. Petrobras operates both concessions with a 100 percent stake," noted the company in a released statement.
Oil exploration along the Equatorial Margin has raised concerns among environmental groups, fearing potential biodiversity impacts. However, the Anhangá and Pitu Oeste wells are situated far from the mouth of the Amazon River, deemed the most ecologically sensitive area.
The Equatorial Margin spans from Rio Grande do Norte state to Amapá state along the Brazilian coast, encompassing hydrographic basins such as those of the Amazon River, Pará-Maranhão, Barreirinhas, Ceará, and Potiguar. This geographical area is recognized for its significant potential in the oil and gas sector. Petrobras, in its Strategic Plan 2024-2028, allocated $3.1 billion for research in the Equatorial Margin, aiming to drill 16 wells over the course of four years.
In its press release, Petrobras emphasized that the drilling in Anhangá proceeded without any incidents, underscoring the company's commitment to upholding both environmental and human safety standards. Additionally, Petrobras highlighted its track record of successfully drilling 3,000 wells in deep and ultra-deep water environments, affirming its technical expertise in ensuring safe operations.
"The exploratory activities in the Equatorial Margin represent another step in Petrobras' commitment to replenishing reserves and developing new exploratory frontiers that will ensure that global energy demand is met during the energy transition," the text adds.
