Petrobras confirms 290-m oil column with first Libra appraisal well

Brazil’s Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) confirmed a 290-m oil column and reservoir showing good porosity and permeability following completion of an appraisal well in the northwest portion of the Libra block, part of the Santos basin presalt.

Samples collected from the well confirmed 27° gravity oil, just as with oil found in the 2-ANP-2A-RJS discovery well, just 4 km northwest. A formation test is expected in the oil-bearing zone to verify its characteristics and reservoir productivity.

The appraisal well—separately labeled 3-BRSA-1255, 3-RJS-731, or NW1, depending on the organization—was spudded in August along with a second well, eventually reaching a total depth of 5,734 m in 1,963 m of water (OGJ Online, Aug. 21, 2014). It lies 185 km offshore Rio de Janeiro.

The Libra consortium will proceed with activities in the exploratory plan approved by Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP). The second well—3-RJS-735, also known as L2C1—has reached the base of the salt, and Petrobras expects drilling of the reservoir layers to occur in a few days.

The consortium in October signed a letter of intent with Odebrecht Oil & Gas and Teekay to charter a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel for the extended well test campaign at Libra (OGJ Online, Oct. 10, 2014).

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 FPSOs.

The consortium is comprised of operator Petrobras with 40% interest, Total 20%, Royal Dutch Shell PLC 20%, China National Petroleum Corp. 10%, China National Offshore Oil Corp. Ltd. 10%, along with Brazilian state-owned Pre-Sal Petroleo SA (OGJ Online, Oct. 21, 2013).