Petrobras to boost Amazon gas exploration
Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 4 -- Brazil's state-owned Petroleo Brasileiro (Petrobras) plans to step up exploration for natural gas in the Amazon rainforest, according to a senior company official.
Petrobras plans to launch gas production in 2008 from its Urucu field in northern Amazonas state, where it now produces 50,000 b/d of oil, said director of exploration and production Guilherme Estrella on Sept. 3.
Estrella said Urucu field will help meet gas demand growth by 2012 and that Petrobras has a 20-year agreement to supply 5.5 million cu m/day of gas to Amazonas state.
Petrobras plans to drill 23 wells in the Solimoes basin by 2012, he said. Major projects will include Jurua, Jaraqui, and Sao Mateus fields.
Meanwhile, Estrella forecast lower production for Petrobras than earlier predicted. Petrobras's average oil output will stand at about 1.85 million b/d in 2007, down from the earlier target of 1.919 million b/d, Estrella said.
The reduced output resulted from operational problems with platforms P-34, P-50, P-43, and P-48. According to Estrella, however, most problems have been resolved.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].