Posted by Earlier this week, IBAMA granted Petrobras an environmental license for drilling in the Brazilian Equatorial Margin. This is a significant step for oil and gas exploration in the region, particularly considering recent challenges faced in the Foz do Amazonas basin.
The company plans to drill two exploration wells, starting in October, in the BM-POT-17 exploration concession which includes deep-water blocks POT-M-853 and POT-M-855. Originally, these blocks were acquired by Petrobras in a consortium with Petrogal in the 7th Bid Round (2005). In 2013, BP Energy acquired half of Petrobras‘ share, but the state company regained full ownership of the blocks in 2021. This concession also included block POT-M-665, containing the Tango discovery, but it was returned to ANP in 2020.
Pitu Oeste should be the first well to be drilled in block POT-M-853, located 52 km off the coast, by ODN II rig. Anhangá, located further north, in block POT-M-762, is also included in the license. These drillings aim to gather additional geological information to evaluate the economic viability and extent of the oil discovery at a depth of 4,000 meters in Pitu (1-BRSA-1205-RNS), drilled in 2013.