Petrobras, currently in need of good news to counter its neg­ative corporate headlines of recent weeks and the tragedy aboard the FPSO Cidade de São Mateus (see separate story, page 10), has churned out announcement of yet another ultra-deepwater discovery but this time in the post-salt.

The operator confirmed the find of heavy oil in concession BM-C-35 (exploratory block C-M-535) in the Campos Basin post-salt layer. The discovery was made while drilling well 1-BRSA-1289-RJS / 1-RJS-737, informally known as Basilisco, which is in the same block as the Xerelete find to the south.

The well is situated some 143 km from the city of Armação dos Búzios, on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, in a water depth of 2,214 m (7,264 ft). The accumulations consist of heavy oil and were found in two different reservoir depths, at 3,190-m (10,466 ft) and at 3,521 m (11,552 ft).

The consortium for BM-C-35, which includes Petrobras (operator with 65%) in partnership with BP (35%), will proceed with the necessary activ­ities to assess the extension of the discoveries, as well as the concession’s exploratory potential.