Total SA announced Nov. 27 that the Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras)-led Libra consortium has brought production on stream in ultradeep waters 180 km offshore Rio de Janeiro in Brazil’s presalt Santos basin.
Petrobras operates Libra and holds 40% interest in an international consortium. Partners are Total 20%, Royal Dutch Shell PLC 20%, CNOOC Ltd. 10%, and China National Petroleum Corp 10%.
The Pioneiro de Libra floating production, storage, and offloading unit has a capacity of 50,000 bbl. Initial production will generate revenue while enabling technical data to be collected to optimize the subsequent development phases.
Total Exploration & Production Pres. Arnaud Breuillac said Libra fits into Total’s strategy of highly competitive projects with low break-even points. Libra, discovered in May 2010, is estimated to contain 8-12 billion boe of reserves below a 2-km salt layer (OGJ Online, June 17, 2016).
Petrobras says Libra reservoirs have 27° gravity oil and are expected to have excellent productivity.
The Libra development awaits an investment decision regarding whether to finalize plans for the Libra 1 FPSO with a capacity of 150,000 b/d. Partners expect other production units of similar capacity will be financed in future years to develop the field’s full potential.