Petrobras resumes subsalt drilling near Guara and Carioca finds
Brazilian state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro resumed drilling in a key subsalt exploration block in the
promising Santos Basin, according to the country's National Petroleum Agency.
The Ocean Clipper rig started drilling in the Santos Basin's BM-S-9 block, ANP data showed. Two previous pioneer
wells in the BM-S-9 block yielded the promising Guara and Carioca discoveries.
The drill rig will target a total depth of 5,592 meters, operating at a water depth of 2,140 meters, ANP data
showed.
Petrobras is lead operator of the block with a 45 % stake. BG Group has a 30 % interest in the block, while Spain's
Repsol-YPF holds a 25 % share.
The BM-S-9 block is part of a group of four blocks that many industry experts and government officials believe
contains a massive geological structure that could hold more than 30 bn barrels of oil -- and possibly much more. The
structure crosses the BM-S-8, BM-S-9, BM-S-21 and BM-S-22.
In 2008, nearly all of the test wells drilled in the region showed signs of oil or natural gas, resulting in the
announcement of such finds as Bem-te-vi, Caramba, Carioca and Guara.
The last block in the area to be tested, BM-S-22, also showed promising signs. Earlier, ExxonMobil notified the ANP
that a test well, dubbed Azulao, showed traces of oil. ExxonMobil started the drilling program in October.
Separately, drilling also started at the BM-BAR-3 offshore block in the Barreirinhas Basin. US independent Devon
Energy has contracted the Deepwater Discovery rig to start drilling. The rig will target a depth of 4,825 meters in
water 2,335 meters deep. Devon holds a 100 % stake in the exploration block.
