Peter Howard Wertheim
OGJ Correspondent
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 22 -- Brazil's state-owned Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has started production from Manati gas-condensate field off Bahia state. Production will increase supply in the northeast of the country, helping to reduce Brazil's dependence on Bolivian gas.
Two wells are producing 3 million cu m/day of gas through the PNMT-1 fixed platform in the Camamu basin field in the Baix Sul Bahia region, Petrobras said (OGJ, June 12, 2006, p. 38).
The project includes a gas pipeline linking Manati, 10 km offshore, to the area adjacent to Ilha de Tinhare island and a gas treatment plant in San Francisco do Conde. Petrobras operates the project in association with Brazilian company Queiroz Galvão and Norway's Norse Energy.
PNMT-1 will reach maximum production of 6 million cu m/day this year, Petrobras said.
Manati field was discovered in October 2000 with the drilling of the 1-BAS-128 wildcat. Water depth in the area is 35-50 m.
Bolivia exports an average 26 million cu m/day of gas to Brazil under a 1999 contract wherein Brazil pays $4.30/MMbtu. The Evo Morales administration of Bolivia is now demanding at least $5/MMbtu, and discussions are under way to address that issue.
