Petrobras confirms "high productivity" of discovered well in Colombia
Petrobras announced this week that formation tests on the Sirius-2 well, discovered last year in Colombia’s deep waters, confirmed "good productivity."
Sirius-2 is situated in the Guajira Basin of the Caribbean Sea, 31 kilometers off the coast at a depth of 804 meters. The reservoir lies 76 kilometers from Santa Marta.
In addition to confirming good productivity, samples were collected for laboratory analysis.
"The test's preliminary results reinforce the region's gas potential," the company stated.
Petrobras explores and produces oil and gas in Colombia through its subsidiary, Petrobras International Braspetro B.V.—Sucursal Colombia (PIB-COL), in partnership with the state-owned oil company Ecopetrol. The Colombians hold a 55.56 percent stake in the consortium, while Petrobras owns 44.44 percent.
When the consortium announced the well's discovery in August, it was named Uchuva. It was later renamed Sirius.
Exploratory block
In addition to Sirius-2, the companies are also exploring Sirius-1, a nearby well within the same exploration block.
"The consortium will continue assessing the drilling results of the Sirius-1 and Sirius-2 wells, in line with the planning and contractual commitments with the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH)," Petrobras stated.
The ANH, affiliated with the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy, is the regulatory body for the oil and gas sector in Colombia, similar to the role of Brazil's National Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANP).
In this week's statement, Petrobras highlighted that exploration in the Guajira Offshore Basin maritime block (GUA-OFF-0) "aligns with the company's long-term strategy to replenish oil and gas reserves by exploring new frontiers and forming partnerships, ensuring global energy demand is met during the energy transition."
Giant field
The region where the Sirius-2 well is located can be considered part of the equatorial margin, as stated by Petrobras' Director of Exploration and Production, Sylvia Anjos, on December 5, 2024. At that time, the state-owned company announced the discovery of the largest natural gas reservoir in the history of the neighboring country.
Despite the large volume, the Brazilian state-owned company declared that production would be directed to the Colombian gas market to meet the country's high demand.
Equatorial margin
The equatorial margin has gained attention in recent years as a promising new frontier for oil and gas exploration. Recent discoveries off the coasts of Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname have highlighted the region's significant exploration potential, given its proximity to the equator.
In Brazil, the equatorial margin extends from the state of Rio Grande do Norte to the state of Amapá. Petrobras has 16 wells in this new exploratory frontier but only has authorization from the Brazilian Environmental Institute (Ibama) to drill two of them, located off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte.
The exploration has faced criticism from environmentalists, who are concerned about potential environmental damage. Ibama has denied licenses for other areas, such as the mouth of the Amazon Basin. Petrobras has requested a reconsideration from the institute, which is linked to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and is currently awaiting a decision.
Petrobras emphasizes that extracting oil from the equatorial margin is a strategic decision to reduce the country’s reliance on oil imports.
Petrobras in the world
The Brazilian state-owned company's operations abroad aim to secure sources that will strengthen its oil and gas reserves. Less than a month ago, Director Sylvia Anjos highlighted the need to acquire oil fields in African countries, particularly in Angola, Namibia, and South Africa.
Petrobras also holds three exploration blocks in São Tomé and Príncipe, located off the west coast of Africa.
In Argentina, through its subsidiary Petrobras Operaciones S.A., the company holds a 33.6 percent stake in the Neuquén River production asset.
In Bolivia, Petrobras primarily produces gas from the San Alberto and San Antonio fields, holding a 35 percent stake in each of these service contracts, which are mainly focused on supplying gas to Brazil and Bolivia.
In the United States, Petrobras operates in deepwater fields in the Gulf of Mexico, with a 20 percent stake held by Petrobras America Inc. The company is part of the MPGoM joint venture with Murphy Exploration & Production Company.
