ExxonMobil has reported to Brazilian regulatory officials a pre-salt petroleum discovery of unknown size off the coast of the country near major reserves of the Santos basin such as Tupi and Carioca.
Offshore staff
HOUSTON -- ExxonMobil has reported to Brazilian regulatory officials a pre-salt petroleum discovery of unknown size off the coast of the country near major reserves of the Santos basin such as Tupi and Carioca.
The significance of the discovery in the area known as Azulao is as yet unknown. Regulatory filings of initial discoveries do not require estimates of potential recovery. However, block BM-S-22 is near recent pre-salt discoveries that still are being defined but thought to be substantial.
Oil found in this area of Brazilian pre-salt formations can be at a water depth of more than 2,000 m (6,562 ft) and 5,000 m (16,404 ft) below the seabed, making production both challenging and expensive. ExxonMobil declined comment, saying an official statement was pending.
The rigWest Polaris drilled the hole. ExxonMobil is a 40% stakeholder and operator of the field along with Hess which has 40% and Petrobras which has 20%.
