Petro Rio lets contract for Frade revitalization, Wahoo development

Petro Rio SA has let a contract for Frade field revitalization and Wahoo field development, both offshore Brazil, to Ocyan Drilling SA.

The contract will begin in March 2022 and will enable the drilling of three wells (one producer, two injectors) in Frade heavy oil and gas field, followed by drilling of four producer wells in Wahoo field.

The contract’s initial period will be 500 days and PetroRio will have an option to extend this term for an additional 350 days, divided into periods of 70 days each.

The wells will be drilled by the NORBE VI rig, a semisubmersible platform built in 2021. It has dynamic positioning and can operate in 2,400 m water depths and drill wells up to 7,500 m.

Frade lies 370 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in Northern Campos basin, Brazil, in 1,128 m of water. Wahoo is 30-35 km north of Frade in 1,400 m of water with a carbonate reservoir in the presalt at 5,000-7,000 m. Petro Rio plans a production cluster which will tie back to the Frade FPSO.

In March, Petro Rio agreed to acquire Total E&P do Brasil Ltda.’s 28.6% interest in Wahoo, bringing PetroRio’s operated interest in the field to 64.3% (OGJ Online, Mar. 5, 2021). Petro Rio is sole owner of Frade field after acquiring Petrobras’s 30% interest in February (OGJ Online, Feb. 8, 2021).