Petrobras and its partners are considering using an already-designed Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) unit on the large Carcará oil and gas field in the Brazilian pre-salt, in addition to one replicant FPSO already lined up for the field.

The consortium for block BM-S-8 in the Santos Basin is due to start drilling the Carcará (Extension) appraisal well during this quarter to evaluate the resource potential in the flank of the discovery. This will be followed by a well test to evaluate the reservoir’s productivity, according to partner Galp Energia of Portugal. Carcará lies 232 km offshore in 2,027 m (6,651 ft) of water, to the west of the giant Lula field.

Due to the complexity of the well, it will be drilled in two phases, with the first to see one rig drill up to the start of the salt layer starting before the end of this month. The second phase and the formation test are scheduled to take place during the second half of 2014, using a different, higher-specification rig.

But Galp’s CEO, Manuel Ferreira De Oliveira, went on in his company’s latest results presentation to flag up the FLNG option for the field’s gas: “We have, as you are also aware, a designed FLNG facility to put on the Santos Basin, which is totally designed. We even bid it to be prepared to award the contract eventually, if that is necessary. So all the options are always on the table and the decisions will be taken in the right moment.”

Regarding the well test, Petrobras and its partners had planned originally to drill the appraisal well and test it before the end of this year but had to change their plans as a consequence of the required rig availability. Due to the expected high pressure of the reservoir, the first standard rig will not enter the reservoir but leave that job for the second high-spec unit next year, which will drill into the salt layer and carry out the reservoir test.

If all goes to plan, Galp said it still expects Carcará to start up during 2018 via an FPSO. Said De Oliveira: “The reason why we believe that by 2018 Carcará could be on production is related to the expected productivity of the well – because as you know high pressure reservoir means high flows from the wells – and to the fact that we have to declare commerciality by 2015. So that means that we will have three years to put the first production unit onstream. This is what the consortium is expecting and as you know Petrobras is a member of the consortium and that fits in their portfolio of options to growth production.”

He also confirmed that a well would then be drilled next year in the same block on the Guanxuma prospect, using the same rig.

A gas pipeline to shore for Carcará is also still an option, with one line already under construction and others likely due to other developments also taking place in the area.

Carcará lies in the ultra-deep block containing the Bem-te-vi discovery assessment plan area, with well 4-SPS-86B (4-BRSA-971-SPS) earlier this year hitting a significant pre-salt column of at least 471 m (1,545 ft) of light oil (see DI, 7 January 2013, page 6). Petrobras holds a 66% stake as operator, with Galp holding 14%, and Barra Energia and Queiroz Galvão E&P holding 10% each.

  • Portugal’s Galp Energia says all is on course for the company’s Brazilian floating production fleet, with 10 FPSOs due onstream by 2017.

On the Petrobras-operated Lula and Iracema field, Galp reports that the FPSO Cidade de Paraty is expected to reach full capacity by the fourth quarter of 2014 after starting production on Lula NE in June this year. Another FPSO (Cidade de Mangaratiba) planned for Iracema Sul is now 70% complete at the Brasfels yard and on track to start production by 4Q14, while the construction of the next FPSO units is progressing according to plan, it added.

There are also two Extended Well Tests underway or due to start shortly, one already flowing as at the end of October on Lula Central (using the FPSO Dynamic Producer) and one on Lula Sul (using the FPSO Cidade de Sao Vicente) expected to start up during November.

The two EWTs were moved forward by the BM-S-11 consortium after it became apparent that production was going to be impacted by maintenance activities on the Mexilhão platform, constraining production at the FPSO Cidade de Angra dos Reis.

Offshore