Petrobras begins drilling first exploration well in Libra consortium

Petrobras has started drilling the first exploration well in the Libra area. Schahin’s Cerrado drillship is drilling the well, known as 3-RJS-731. This is the first of two wells planned for the first phase of the Minimum Exploration Program (PEM) agreed with Brazil’s National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP).

Well 3-RJS-731 will reach a TD of 5,850 m. It is positioned approximately 170 km off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro state, approximately 5 km southwest of discovery well 2-ANP-2A-RJS.

While drilling the exploration well, fundamental tests will be carried out to obtain information needed to develop Libra’s production. Besides drilling these two wells, the PEM also involves conducting a 3D-PSDM seismic survey of the whole block area, which has been completed, as well as an extended well test, to begin in December 2016. PEM will be completed by the end of 2017.

Petrobras is operator of the consortium (40%), in partnership with Shell (20%), Total (20%), CNPC (10%) and CNOOC (10%).