Offshore staff

RIO DE JANEIRO – Petrobras has announced that the first well drilled after the execution of the Transfer of Rights agreement confirmed the extension of the oil reserves located northwest of the Franco area discovery well, in the Santos basin pre-salt cluster.

The new well, referred to as 3-BRSA-944A-RJS (3-RJS-688A), informally known as Franco NW, is at a water depth of 1,860 m (6,100 ft), approximately 188 km (118 mi) from Rio de Janeiro, and 7.7 km (4.8 mi) northwest of discovery well 2-ANP-1-RJS (Franco).

The discovery was confirmed by oil samples of good quality (28° API) obtained through cable tests. Sample collection started at 5,460 m (17,913 ft), in carbonate rock reservoirs of similar thickness as those registered in the discovery well.

The well is still in the drilling phase with the aim of reaching the base of the reservoirs containing oil. Once the drilling phase is complete, Petrobras will continue with the investment activities provided in the Mandatory Exploratory Program (Programa Exploratório Obrigatório, PEO) of the Transfer of Rights agreement, including the acquisition of 3D seismic data that is already underway in the area. 






11/10/2011