Petrobras begins drilling in Libra field offshore Brazil

Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has spudded the first appraisal well in the presalt Libra field 200 km offshore Brazil. Its target depth will reach 5,850 m.

Production is scheduled to begin in 2017, plateauing at 1.3 million b/d in 2030. Partner Total SA believes development could require as many as 12 floating production, storage, and offloading vessels.

Part of the Santos basin, the supergiant field covers 1,550 sq km in 2,000 m of water and is thought to hold 8-12 billion bbl in resources.

Petrobras operates Libra at 40% interest alongside Total 20%, Royal Dutch Shell PLC 20%, China National Petroleum Corp. 10%, and China National Offshore Oil Corp. 10%. The consortium won a 35-year production-sharing contract in October 2013 (OGJ Online, Oct. 21, 2013).