PreSalt.com

26 Oct 2009 - by PreSalt.com - Source: Petrobras - The Petrobras answered.

1. What is the pre-salt?

The term pre-salt refers to a group of rocks located in the marine portions of most of the Brazilian coast, with potential for the generation and accumulation of oil. It was called pre-salt because it forms a range of rock that stretches under an extensive layer of salt, which in some areas of the coast reaches thicknesses of up to 2,000. The term pre is used because, over time, these rocks have been deposited before the layer of salt. The total depth of these rocks, which is the distance between the sea surface and oil reservoirs beneath the salt layer, can reach more than 7 thousand meters.

The major oil discoveries in Brazil have been made recently by Petrobras in the pre-salt layer between the states of Santa Catarina and São Paulo, where he found large volumes of light oil. In the Santos Basin, for example, the oil already identified in the pre-salt has a density of 28.5 ° API, low acidity and low sulfur content. Are characteristics of a high quality oil and higher market value.


2. What is the estimated volume of oil accumulations found in the pre-salt discoveries so far?

The first results indicate very significant volumes. To get an idea, only the accumulation of Tupi, in the Santos Basin, has estimated recoverable volumes between 5 and 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent (oil more gas). Already the well of Guara, also in the Santos Basin, has volumes from 1.1 to 2 billion barrels of light oil and natural gas with specific gravity around 30 º API.


3. The recent discoveries in the pre-salt are economically viable?

Based on the outcome of the wells so far drilled and tested, no doubt about the technical and economic feasibility of commercial development of accumulations discovered. The technical studies already made for the development of pre-salt associated with the resourcing of services and specialized equipment and logistics allow us to ensure the success of this enterprise. Some steps in this task have already been won: in May this year, Petrobras began the long-term test of the Tupi area, with capacity to process up to 30 thousand barrels of oil. A month later the refinery Capuava (Recap), in Sao Paulo, refined the first volume of oil extracted from the pre-salt Santos Basin. It is a landmark in the world oil industry.


4. How did this story of overcoming challenges?

In 2004 some wells were drilled in search of oil in the Santos Basin. It as had been identified above the salt layer, sandy rocks deposited in deep water, which were already known. If oil was found, the idea was further drilling to reach the pre-salt, where the coaches believed that would be found large reservoirs of oil.
In 2006, when the drilling had reached 7.600M range from sea level, was found an accumulation of giant gas and condensate reservoirs of oil, a light oil component. In the same year, in another drilling in the Santos Basin, the Company and its partners have made a new discovery, which permanently change the course of exploration in Brazil. A little over 5 thousand meters deep from the surface of the sea came the great news: well, today named Tupi, showed traces of oil beneath the salt layer. The success led to the drilling of seven wells and all met oil. The investment was worth it.


5. With this result, which changes for Petrobras?

These findings should raise the company over the next few years to a new level of reserves and oil production, putting it in a prominent position in the ranking of the major operating companies. With the experience gained in developing deepwater fields in the Campos Basin, Petrobras technicians are prepared today to develop accumulations discovered in the pre-salt. To do this, are already making adjustments in technology and logistics developed by the company over the years.


6. What are the contributions of these great discoveries to national development?

With the large expected growth of the company's activities for the coming years, both in the pre-salt as in other areas where it already operates, Petrobras has substantially increased the planned resources in its Business Plan. Are robust investments that will ensure the implementation of one of the most robust portfolios of projects in the oil industry in the world. Will be new production platforms, more than a hundred support vessels, and the largest fleet of drilling rigs to come into activity in the coming years.
The construction of platforms P-55 and P-57, among other projects already committed to the shipping industry, will ensure the occupation of the shipyards and much of the chain of goods and services offshore Brazil. Only the Plan Renewal Support boats, launched in May 2008, plans to build 146 new ships, with the requirement of 70% to 80% domestic content, at a total cost estimated at $ 5 billion. The construction of each vessel will generate about 500 direct jobs and a total of 3,800 vacancies for crew members to operate the new fleet.


7. Petrobras is prepared, technologically, to develop the area of pre-salt?

Yes she is directing much of its efforts to research and technological development that will ensure in the coming years, production of the new frontier of exploration. One example is the Technological Program for the Development of Production of Pre-Salt Reservoirs (prosal), like the successful programs developed by the Research Center (Cenpes), as Procap, making possible the production in deep waters. In addition to developing its own technology, the company works hand in hand with a network of universities that contribute to the formation of a solid portfolio of national technology. In December Cenpes had already completed the 3D integrated modeling of the Santos Basin, Espirito Santo and Campos, which will be instrumental in exploiting new discoveries.


8. How is the capacity of industry to meet these demands?

This is another great challenge: the installed capacity of industry goods and services is still insufficient to meet anticipated claims. Given this, Petrobras will use a number of competitive advantages already identified, to foster the development of the supply chain. Thanks to its ability to leverage the volume of purchases, the company is able to enter into long term contracts with its suppliers. And as a guarantee for a market in expansion phase. Additionally, you can forward contracts, to support strategic suppliers, raise funds and attract new partners. All this supported by a program of aggressive bids to meet the production challenges of the coming years.


9. What are the assets of Petrobras to work in the pre-salt?

First, the undeniable power of its technical and managerial, recognized worldwide, the experience in the development of reservoirs in deep and ultradeep waters of other basins in Brazil, its logistics base installed in the country, its ability to work together with suppliers of goods and services and the academic area in depth of knowledge and the great economic and technological interest that challenge raises the scientific and industrial community in the country.


10. What similarities can be identified between what happened in the 80s, in the Campos Basin, and now, with the pre-salt?

In fact, the findings in the pre-salt leave Petrobras in a similar situation to that experienced in the 80s, when they were discovered in the fields of Albacora and Marlin in the deep waters of the Campos Basin. In those fields, the Company identified an exploratory model of rocks to inaugurate a new cycle of important discoveries. It was the era of the turbidites, reservoir rocks, which have opened new prospects for oil production in Brazil. With the pre-salt Santos Basin, is inaugurated, now, new model, sitting in the discovery of oil and gas in carbonate reservoirs with different geological characteristics. It is the beginning of a new and promising horizon exploratory.