Petrobras announced this week that production at its Búzios field offshore Brazil has reached a record 800,000 B/D following the startup of its sixth floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit, the Almirante Tamandaré.
The field, located in the pre-salt Santos Basin about 180 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, is the second largest in Brazil by production volume and reserves, following the Tupi field. Búzios began production in 2018 and is host to five other FPSOs.
“This major production milestone is the result, above all, of the tireless efforts of teams from different areas of Petrobras. The company is committed to producing sustainably, seeking to apply new technologies. We are aware of the responsibility we have in providing energy to help move the country forward. Therefore, we celebrate this record, aware that we need to continue on this path, developing our reserves and seeking new exploratory frontiers,” Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard said in a statement.
The Almirante Tamandaré, which came on stream 15 February, has the largest production capacity in Brazil’s offshore sector, capable of processing 225,000 B/D of oil and 12 MMscf/D of gas. Petrobras expects Búzios to hit 1 million B/D soon as the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré ramps up to full capacity.
The FPSO is connected to a subsea production and injection system via umbilicals and risers, connecting 15 subsea wells. The project includes gas lift, gas and water injection, and the potential for future gas transfer. Petrobras took delivery of the vessel in October from a Chinese shipyard.
The company plans to expand to at least 11 FPSOs as it targets 1.5 million B/D by 2030. The next project will center on a 180,000 B/D FPSO, set to produce via 14 subsea wells, with operations expected to begin next year.
Búzios set its previous daily production record in January 2024 at 782,000 B/D, with Petrobras noting that it surpassed 750,000 B/D for more than 20 days over the year. In March 2024, the field hit 1 billion bbl of cumulative production 5 years after first oil was achieved.
Petrobras received the 2020 Offshore Technology Conference Distinguished Achievement Award for its advanced technologies that addressed challenges such as ultradeepwater conditions, subsalt reservoirs, high pressure, and high CO2 content. The company credits the innovations to greater efficiency, higher production, and reduced operating costs.
Búzios hosts Brazil’s most productive wells, with reservoirs located 1700 to 2100 m below the seabed. The pay zone, nearly 400 m thick, is comparable in height to Rio de Janeiro’s Sugarloaf Mountain.
Petrobras is the operator of Búzios with an 88.98% interest alongside partners CNOOC (7.34%), CNPC (3.67%), and Pré-Sal Petróleo SA (PPSA) as the project manager.
