Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) identified hydrocarbons in the deepwater Pitu Oeste exploratory well in block BM-POT-17 in the deepwater Potiguar basin, 52 km off the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
This was the first exploration drilled in the the Brazilian Equatorial Margin since 2015 and Petrobras is seeking additional geological data about the area to evaluate the scope and viability of the previous Pitu well discovery (OGJ Online, Oct. 3, 2023).
The economic viability of the discovery is still inconclusive, but Petrobras will continue exploratory research in the region. In February, the company plans to drill Anhangá, the second exploratory well in the basin in the POT-M-762 concession 79 km off the coast and close to the Pitu Oeste well.
Potiguar basin covers maritime portions of the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará and is part of the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, which stretches between the states of Amapá and Rio Grande do Norte.
Petrobras intends to drill 16 exploratory wells in the Equatorial Margin over 5 years. The company plans to obtain more geological information about the area to determine reservoir potential and direct exploratory activities.
