Portugal’s Galp Energia has updated progress on its queue of giant fields offshore Brazil, which are to be tapped by a series of deepwater FPSO-based developments.

Development in the Lula NE area is ongoing, where FPSO Cidade de Paraty (FPSO 2) – which originally started production in June 2013 – continued flowing via two development wells. Also during the first quarter, a first buoyancy supported riser (BSR South) was installed on the FPSO and a second and third production well are due to start up in the current quarter.

At Lula NW, a second production well was hooked up in January to the FPSO Cidade de Paraty via flexible risers. This well was then disconnected in March to allow a second buoyancy supported riser, BSR North, to be installed, which is due to be hooked up in this quarter.

This FPSO is due to reach full production by the fourth quarter – 18 months after production originally commenced.
In block BM-S-8 preparation is underway for a Carcara Extension well, due to start in the fourth quarter of this year, to investigate the flank of the main Carcara discovery. Managed Pressure Drilling equipment has been contracted for this well – allowing safer and faster drilling, Galp said. Block partners are still evaluating options for contracting a rig appropriate for the characteristics of this well, the Portuguese player reports.

Meanwhile, Galp indicates work on the Lula and Iracema projects is proceeding according to approved schedules and budgets.

During February the Cidade de Paraty FPSO was also connected to the Lula-Mexilhao gas pipeline from which gas exports are due to commence this quarter, Galp indicated.

And at the Lula-Cabiunhas gas pipeline, which will carry gas from the Santos Basin, Galp said the block consortium has received an environmental licence (known as a ‘preliminary license’) as well as an offshore installation license for the new pipeline. This second gas line is expected onstream in 2015, with capacity to carry up to 15 MMcf/d of gas.

Meanwhile two extended well tests, on the Lula Central and Lula South areas, which started via FPSO Dynamic Producer and FPSO Cidade de Sao Vincente, ended in April.

In June the Dynamic Producer is due to start another two-month EWT on the Iara field. A reservoir data well on Iara, which is designed to increase reservoir knowledge in order to optimise the equipment and infrastructure for the development, was spudded during the first quarter. [see related BG Brazil story, page 2]