175 km off the coast of the Brazilian state of Amapá and some 500 km from the mouth of the Amazon River, Petrobras has begun exploratory drilling activities in block FZA-M-059. The company obtained the operating license issued by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources(Ibama), after a regulatory process that lasted almost five years.
Commencement of exploration drilling operations
With the platform located in the offshore reservoir, the company will begin drilling activities immediately. This exploratory phase is projected to last five months and its objective is to evaluate the geological potential of the area, determining if there is the presence of hydrocarbons in commercially viable quantities.
During the licensing process, Petrobras demonstrated strict compliance with all the requirements established by Ibama, including the completion of a Pre-operational Assessment(PEA) in August, where the effectiveness of its environmental emergency response plan was verified.
Brazil’s Equatorial Margin has consolidated itself as a strategic region in the search for new energy reserves. Petrobras sees this area as a potential source of resources to strengthen the country’s energy security. The company’s president, Magda Chambriard, reaffirmed the state-owned company’s commitment to the responsible development of this offshore frontier.
The Brazilian oil company has stressed that the progress of these exploration projects is aligned with national energy transition objectives. After identifying new sources of hydrocarbons, it is seen as a necessary advance to maintain self-sufficiency while developing more sustainable alternatives.
Source and photo: Petrobras
