Petrobras reported that new data obtained from drilling of Well #4-SPS-86B (4-BRSA-971-SPS), which is testing the prospect known as Carcará, reinforced the importance of the good-quality oil discovery in Block BM-S-8 in the ultra-deepwater of Brazil’s Santos Basin pre-salt region.

It has been proven, so far, that there is a continuous oil column of 171 m (561ft) in reservoirs of excellent quality. New oil samples of approximately 32° API were collected from reservoirs located at depths of up to 5,910 m (19,389 ft), also confirming the continuity of the discovery that was reported to the market on March 20 by the consortium.

The well is 232 km off the coast of São Paulo state in a water depth of 2,027 m (6,650 ft). The well is currently being drilled, at a depth of 5,926 m (19,442 ft) and still within the oil zone, to determine the lower limit of the reservoirs and the total thickness of the zones of interest.

The consortium will continue with the activities and investments needed to assess the area in accordance with the assessment plan approved by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels.

Petrobras is the operator of the consortium, with 66% interest; Petrogal Brasil, 14%; Barra Energia do Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda., 10%; and Queiroz Galvão Exploração e Produção S.A., 10%.