Petrobras confirms new ultra-deep province, starts Lula gas exports

Sept. 21, 2011
Petrobras says its has discovered a new ultra-deepwater oil province in Brazil’s Segipe-Alagoas basin.

Offshore staff

RIO DE JANEIRO – Petrobras says its has discovered a new ultra-deepwater oil province in Brazil’s Segipe-Alagoas basin.

Well 1-BRSA-851-SES (1-SES-158), otherwise known as Barra, was drilled in the block SEAL-M-426 in a water depth of 2,341 m (7,680 ft), 58 km (36 mi) off the coast of the state of Sergipe and 90 km (56 mi) from Aracaju.

The discovery of oil and gas was confirmed following wireline logging and fluid sampling from a lined well formation test.

Petrobras says high-quality porosity conditions were encountered in reservoirs at subsurface depths between 5,050 and 5,400 m (16,568-17,716 ft). An oil sample indicated excellent quality, with API of around 43° in the upper interval and 32° in the lower interval.

In the Santos basin, the gas pipeline connecting the pre-salt Lula field to the Mexilhão platform has started operation. Its flow capacity is up to 10 MMcm/d.

The pipeline is 216 km (134 mi) long, 18-in. (45.7 cm) in diameter and with an operating pressure of 250 bar (3,626 psi). Lula’s gas is produced through the FPSO Cidade Angra dos Reis. In time it will accommodate gas from further floaters in the pre-salt region.

The Lula-Mexilhão gas line is also connected to the pipeline linking the Mexilhão field to the Monteiro Lobato gas treatment unit (UTGCA) in Caraguatatuba; and to the Caraguatatuba-Taubaté gas pipeline, which links gas processed at the UTGCA to Brazil’s gas distribution network for its domestic market.

09/21/2011