Enterprise gets okay to develop Bijupirá and Salema fields off Brazil

June 25, 2001
Brazil has approved Enterprise Oil PLC's plans to develop Bijupirá and Salema fields off Brazil. Drilling operations are scheduled to start in the next few weeks, said Enterprise, with first oil expected in the third quarter of 2003 via a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel.


By the OGJ Online Staff

LONDON, June 25 -- The Brazilian licensing authority, ANP, has approved Enterprise Oil PLC's plans for the Bijupirá and Salema development off Brazil, the UK independent oil and gas company said Monday.

Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc.'s Ocean Yorktown is expected to begin drilling operations in the next few weeks, said Enterprise. First oil is expected in the third quarter of 2003.

"Sanction of Bijupirá and Salema is a milestone for this project," said Enterprise CEO Pierre Jungels, noting that the development is one of the first to be operated in the Campos basin by an international company.

Petrobras discovered Bijupirá and Salema fields in 1990. They are estimated to hold reserves of 170 million bbl of oil. Enterprise became operator following a farm-in last May.

FMC/Modec is building a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel to develop the fields. It will be able to produce 70,000 b/d of oil and store 1 million bbl. FMC/Modec is a union of FMC Corp.'s FMC Energy Systems unit and MODEC International LLC..

Partners in the development are Enterprise 55%, Odebrecht Oil & Gas Ltd. 25%, and Petrobras of Brazil 20%.

Meanwhile, Enterprise last week was awarded four licenses in the ANP's third round, including one as operator, in the Espirito Santo and Santos basins.