Eric Watkins
OGJ oil Diplomacy Editor
LOS ANGELES, Mar. 25 -- A consortium comprised of Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), BG Group PLC, and Protugal’s Galp Energia SGPS SA completed a drill stem test (DST) on the Tupi Northeast well (3-BRSA-755A-RJS or 3-RJS-622A) in the BM-S-11 appraisal area in the Santos basin presalt off Brazil.
Analyst BMI said it demonstrates Petrobras’s continued progress in developing Brazil's massive offshore reserves and confirms “strong growth in Brazil's oil output over the coming years.”
The DST confirmed high productivity of 5,000 b/d of 28° gravity oil. Flow rates were constrained by the test facility capacity. Potential production from the well is estimated at 30,000 b/d.
BG Group said the Tupi Northeast appraisal well “confirmed the widespread presence of an excellent quality, light oil-bearing reservoir with high production capacity across the Tupi field.”
It said the appraisal results are in line with “the previous excellent well test productivity recorded in the Tupi Sul well confirmed by a subsequent extended well test during the last 12 months.”
Results of the Tupi Northeast DST builds on the confirmation of record productivity from DSTs on the Iracema well in the same concession area 30 km northwest of the Tupi Northeast well, and announced in November 2009.
“Further evaluation of the well data is ongoing and work on optimizing field development options continues at pace,” BG said.
Meanwhile, BG and its partners will continue activities and investments in the evaluation plan approved by Brazil's oil and gas regulatory agency, Agencia Nacional do Petroleo, including the drilling of further wells in the area.
Drilling on Tupi Northeast in the BM-S-11 appraisal area was completed in November 2009. The well was drilled 18 km northeast of the original Tupi discovery well (1-RJS-628A or 1-BRSA-369A) in 2,115 m of water, 265 km off Rio de Janeiro.
The block is operated by Petrobras with a 65% stake, while BG holds 25% and Galp Energia 10%.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
