(Petrobras, 2.May.2022) — Petrobras informs that, on 30 April 2022, it started producing oil and natural gas through FPSO Guanabara, the first definitive production system installed in the Mero field, in the Santos Basin pre-salt.
The platform, an FPSO (floating unit for the production, storage, and transfer of oil and gas) type, is capable of processing up to 180 thousand barrels of oil and 12 million m3 of gas, which represents 6% of the production operated by Petrobras, contributing to the company’s expected production growth. Mero is the third biggest pre-salt oil field (behind only Búzios and Tupi).
The platform arrived at the Mero field in late January 2022. During this period, it was connected to wells and subsea equipment, and underwent final tests before starting production. In the first wave, six producing wells and seven injectors will be connected to the FPSO. The platform is expected to reach peak production by the end of 2022.
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Built and operated by Modec, the unit is located more than 150 km off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro in water depths that reach 1,930 meters.
FPSO Guanabara has gas re-injection systems, where the gas production with 45% carbon dioxide (CO2) content, after self-consumption in the FPSO, will be all re-injected into the reservoirto maintain pressure and improve oil recovery, in addition to reducing the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. The gas reinjection will be done alternately with water injection (Water Alternating Gas – WAG).
Additionally, the Mero field is developing an unprecedented technology to separate, on the seabed, CO2- rich gas from oil for reinjection from the seabed, reducing the amount of gas reaching the FPSO, thus increasing the FPSO’s availability to oil and the project’s efficiency.
The Mero 1 project is part of one of the most robust CO2 capture, use and geological storage programs in the world – called CCUS. These initiatives are aligned with Petrobras’ commitment to reduce carbon intensity in the Exploration & Production area by 32% by 2025.
The unitized Mero field is operated by Petrobras (38.6%), in partnership with Shell Brasil Petroléo Ltda (19.3%), TotalEnergies EP Brasil Ltda. (19.3%), CNODC Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda (9.65%), CNOOC Petroleum Brasil Ltda (9.65%) and Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A-PPSA (3.5%), as the Federal Union’s representative in the non-contracted area.
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