Petrobras has started gas injection from the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré into the deepwater Búzios Field, 49 days after startup.
It represents a new record for a presalt field in the Santos Basin; FPSO Almirante Barroso achieved first injection in 52 days on the same field.
Almirante Tamandaré is the first of six FPSOs ordered by Petrobras with capacities to produce up to 225,000 bbl/d of oil and to process up to 12 MMcm/d of gas. It should attain full capacity later this year.
Other recent highlights noted by Petrobras in a results update included startup of the second producing well on the Mero Field in the Libra Block in mid-February through the FPSO Marechal Duque de Caxias, lifting oil production to about 95,000 bbl/d.
In early March, the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão arrived at the same field following a voyage from China, with mooring operations completed in 10 days. The platform should start service around mid-year; its oil producing capacity is 180,000 bbl/d.
Collectively, Petrobras brought six new production wells onstream during the first quarter at fields in the Campos Basin and five in the Santos Basin.
Its post-salt production rose by 10.5% compared with the previous quarter to 326,000 bbl/d, mainly due to reduced losses arising from maintenance shutdowns and the startup of four new wells on declining Campos Basin fields.
