Sapinhoá field starts commercial production in pre-salt Santos Basin

Petrobras’ Cidade de São Paulo FPSO platform has started commercial production of the Sapinhoá field in block BM-S-9 in the pre-salt Santos Basin. The platform is anchored in 2,140 meters of water, 310 km off the coast, and is capable of processing 120,000 bbls of oil and 5 million cu meters of gas per day. Well 1-SPS-55 is the first well to be connected to the platform.

Production is currently restricted to 15,000 bbl/day of oil, although the platform can produce more than 25,000 bbl/day and is capable of processing 120,000 bbl/day of oil and 5 million cu meters/day of gas. The production restriction will be lifted after the commissioning of natural gas processing and reinjection systems is concluded, which is expected to last 90 days.

The produced oil, which is of intermediate density, 30º API, and high quality, will be transported through tankers. Another 10 wells, five production and five injection, will be connected to the platform in the coming months. Peak production of 120,000 bbl/day of oil is expected for the first half of 2014.

The Sapinhoá field is one of the biggest oil fields in Brazil, with a total recoverable volume estimated at 2.1 billion bbl/day of oil equivalent. It went into commercial production only four and a half years after it was discovered in July 2008.

The Sapinhoá Field Development Plan also provides for a second platform, FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela, whose hull is being converted. It will have capacity for 150,000 bbl/day of oil and 6 million cu meters/day of gas. It is expected to go on stream in the second half of 2014.

Block BM-S-9 is operated by Petrobras in partnership with BG E&P Brasil and Repsol Sinopec Brasil.