By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 5 -- Brazilian state oil company Petroleo Brasierio SA (Petrobras) has started oil production at Coral field on Block BS-3 in the Santos basin off Brazil, said partner Coplex Petroleo do Brasil Ltda. (Coplex Brasil), a unit of Naftex Energy Corp., Vancouver, BC.
Permanent production has started, although stabilized production levels are not yet reached. The oil is 41° API and more details on production levels will be provided once production has stabilized, Coplex Brasil said.
Petrobras is the operator, and Coplex Brasil has a 27.5% interest in Coral field (see map, OGJ, Apr. 26, 1999, p. 27).
Block BS-3 is 170 km off Santa Catarina state in 500 ft of water. The reservoirs, which lie at about 15,500 ft, are Albian limestones overlying pre-Cretaceous salt swells and are similar to those in the Persian Gulf, Coplex Brasil said.