Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) submitted a Declaration of Commerciality (DoC) for oil and gas accumulations in the Carioca area, located in the Santos basin pre-salt. The new field will now be known as “Lapa.”
The DoC was submitted to the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) Dec. 19, and it was accompanied by the Final Report of the Discovery Assessment Plan. This plan followed an exploration and appraisal program that began with the first well in 2007 and consisted of acquiring 3D seismic, drilling five wells as well as performing three formations tests and an extended well test.
Carioca has recently been a hub of activity for Petrobras, leading to speculation that filing for commercialization was imminent. Petrobras hit oil in the Iguaçu Mirim well (3-BRSA-1179-SPS) off the coast of the state of São Paulo in August, just 34km south of the discovery well (1-SPS-50 - Carioca), and 9km south of the Iguaçu well (4-BRSA-709-SPS). These wells occur at a water depth of 2158m.
In October, the Brazilian giant announced that its affiliate Guará BV signed a letter of intent to charter an FPSO for production development in the Carioca area. Mitsui, MOL and Marubeni entered into agreements for the FPSO on Dec. 18. The FPSO Cidade de Caraguatatuba will be deployed in the third quarter of 2016.
Petrobras beat the deadline to file for commercial viability to file by 12 days, and the Development Plan for Lapa field must be submitted for the ANP’s approval within 180 days.
Petrobras operates block BM-S-9. Its partners are BG Group (30%) and Repsol Sinopec Brazil (25%).
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