Oil production in fields operated by Petrobras in the so-called presalt province in the Santos and Campos basins broke through the 500,000 bbl/d mark June 24, reaching 520,000 bbl/d, a new daily production record, the company said in a news release.

Of this volume, 78% (406,000 bbl/d) corresponded to Petrobras’ share and the remainder was contributed by its partner companies in the different production areas in the presalt layer.

This output of 520,000 bbl/d was attained just eight years after the first oil discovery in the presalt layer in 2006, Petrobras said. To arrive at this milestone, Petrobras used just 25 production wells.

The magnitude of this achievement can be better perceived by making a comparison with the company’s own production history. Petrobras was established in 1953 and it took 31 years to reach output of 500,000 bbl/d, which occurred in late 1984, using 4,108 production wells, the company said.

In the post-salt layer of Campos Basin, where the first discovery was made in 1974, it took 21 years to produce 500,000 bbl/d. This production level, achieved in 1995, required 411 production wells.