Perenco starts two-year reactivation of shut-in production facilities in two permits offshore Brazil

Perenco Brazil has started a two-year field reactivation program in its Cherne and Bagre concessions in the offshore Campos basin, which it acquired from Petrobras last month.

In a press announcement of September 16, the company said its goal was to unlock over 50 MMbbl from mature fields in the permits, where the facilities have been mothballed since 2020 for proposed decommissioning.

The first of three planned phases covers full integrity restoration of the PCH-1 and PCH-2 platforms, systems and associated equipment. Tasks will range from the replacement or renovation of turbines and the water treatment systems to modernisation of the metering systems and maintenance/ replacement of the upper deck flowlines. 

This should enable the company to resume production safely.

Second-phase objectives will include laying a new 10-in., 27-km subsea pipeline between PCH1 and the Pargo platform, with production then to be sent to the FSO Pargo through an existing export line.

Perenco will also install a water injection line between PCH1 and PCH2. 

The focus of the third phase will be well interventions and re-entries to restore production from 36 wells, with 21 planned workover campaigns and further studies concerning the potential for gas lift or stimulation via electric submersible pumps.

Perenco has budgeted $250 million in capex for the redevelopment between now and 2027, and is targeting mid-term production of up to 15,000 b/d.

The company has a 100% stake in the Pargo Cluster, comprising the Pargo, Carapeba and Vermelho fields in the shallow-water Campos basin, where production from eight fixed platforms currently averages 20,000 b/d. This compares with 2,800 b/d when the company took over operations from Petrobras.