A group led by Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has encountered 400 m of continuous oil pay at the Carcara deepwater discovery well on the BM-S-8 block in the Santos basin offshore Brazil.
One participant in the well described the results as among the thickest pay yet encountered in the Santos basin presalt (see map, OGJ, June 16, 2008, p. 39).
In late May, when it had drilled to 5,926 m, Petrobras said the well had encountered 171 m of continuous oil column and was still in the oil zone (OGJ Online, June 1, 2012). The oil is reported to be 31° gravity. Present depth is 6,213 m.
Carcara is in 2,027 m of water 232 km offshore Sao Paulo state and 20 km from the Bem-te-Vi discovery well. Petrobras is block operator with 66% interest, Petrogal Brasil has 14%, and Queiroz Galvao Exploracao e Producao and Barra Energia have 10% each.
Alan Petzet | Chief Editor Exploration
Alan Petzet is Chief Editor-Exploration of Oil & Gas Journal in Houston. He is editor of the Weekly E&D Newsletter, emailed to OGJ subscribers, and a regular contributor to the OGJ Online subscriber website.
Petzet joined OGJ in 1981 after 13 years in the Tulsa World business-oil department. He was named OGJ Exploration Editor in 1990. A native of Tulsa, he has a BA in journalism from the University of Tulsa.
