By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 16—Brazilian state oil company Petroleo Brasieiro SA (Petrobras) is near first oil production at Coral field and has upgraded reserves at the Caravela Sul discovery, both on Block BS-3 in the Santos basin.
All necessary environmental and governmental licenses are in hand for Coral, said the Coplex Petroleo do Brasil Ltda., a unit of Naftex Energy Corp., Vancouver, BC.
Coplex Brasil has a 27.5% participating interest in the block.
Meanwhile, Petrobras made a preliminary revision of Caravela Sul reserves to 60 million bbl of oil from 40 million bbl, mainly as a result of a successful production test in subzone B3 in the SCS-10A appraisal well.
The companies tested three zones between 4,761 m and 5,126 m in SCS-10A. B3 flowed 3,000 b/d of 43°, low sulfur crude of low metal content on a 3/8 in. choke.
Oil quality is similar to that in Coral field 15 km north (see map, OGJ, Apr. 26, 1999, p. 27).
Petrobras calculated that B3 could sustain at least 6,000 b/d.
Technical problems prevented tests of B2, which produces in Caravela field. Petrobras said low near-wellbore permeability negated a test of B1.
The companies plan another appraisal well for this spring, interpreting 3D seismic data, and fully evaluating the B3 flow test.
Caravela Sul is in 200 m of water 175 km off Santa Catarina state.
