Block BM-S-11
- Consortium: Galp Energia (10.0%), Petrobras (Operator, 65.0%) and BG Group (25.0%)
- Area: 2,297 km2
- Location: Ultra-deep water
- Water depth: 2,000 - 2,500 metres
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Block BM-S-8
- Consortium: Galp Energia (14.0%), Petrobras (Operator, 66.0%), Barra Energia (10.0%) and Queiroz Galvão E&P (10.0%)
- Area: 2,432 km2
- Location: Ultra-deep water
- Water depth: 2,000 - 2,500 metres
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Block BM-S-21
- Consortium: Galp Energia (20.0%) and Petrobras (Operator, 80.0%)
- Area: 1,037 Km2
- Location: Ultra-deep water
- Water depth: 2,000 - 2,500 metres
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Block BM-S-24
- Consortium: Galp Energia (20.0%) and Petrobras (Operator, 80.0%)
- Area: 1,394 km2
- Location: Ultra-deep water
- Water depth: 2,000 – 2,500 metres
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Important discoveries in block BM-S-11 confirm the potential of the Santos basin
Galp Energia is present in four blocks in ultra-deep water in the Santos basin off the coast of Brazil, with areas ranging from 2,075 to 5,229 square kilometres and water depths between 1,600 and 2,500 metres. The exploration of these blocks is focused on the pre-salt – the accumulation of hydrocarbons older than the salt bedrock. Such areas are also called sub-salt, because they are located beneath a layer of salt that is approximately two kilometres thick.
Galp Energia is present in six of the ten discoveries in this basin: the Tupi, the Iara and the Iracema in Block BM-S-11; the Júpiter in BM-S-24; the Bem-te-vi in BM-S-8; and the Caramba in BM-S-21. Block BM-S-11 was awarded to the consortium in the second bidding round for oil exploratory rights in Brazil in 2000
3D seismic acquisition started in the Tupi area in 2003. The discovery well, Tupi 1, was drilled in 2006, and the drilling of the Tupi Sul well in 2007 confirmed the size of the reservoir. The outcome of the Tupi Sul well formation tests, as well as the geological and seismic information available, confirmed the hydrocarbons potential in the pre-salt; a recoverable volume of 5 to 8 billion barrels of oil and natural gas was estimated in 2007. The Declaration of Commerciality, delivered to ANP on 29 December 2010, revised these volumes upward to 8.3 billion barrels, and marked the area’s formal start of development and production. The Declaration of Commerciality renamed the fields to develop: Tupi became the Lula field and Iracema was renamed the Cernambi field.
In the Iara area, also in Block BM-S-11, activities in 2010 focused on seismic reprocessing and preparation studies for an EWT.
The drilling of new wells strengthens the estimates for the Santos basin
Bem-te-vi, which is the first exploration well in block BM-S-8, was drilled in 2008 and classed as oil discovering. Block BM-S-8 was awarded to the consortium in the second bidding round for exploratory rights in Brazil in 2000.
In block BM-S-21, the plan for appraising the Caramba discovery in 2007 progressed. Block BM-S-21 was awarded to the consortium in the third bidding round for exploratory rights in Brazil in 2001.
Júpiter, which is the first exploration reservoir in block BM-S-24, was drilled in 2008, which led to an important discovery of oil, natural gas and condensates. The opening in August 2008 of a side track of the well whose drilling started in January 2008 but was later discontinued for operational reasons confirmed the discovery that had been announced in the beginning of the year. Block BM-S-24 was awarded to the consortium in the third round for exploratory rights in Brazil in 2001.