Significant amounts of light oil and gas ranging from 50 billion to 80 billion barrels equivalent are contained in the 200-kilometer-wide subsalt band that runs at least 800 kilometers up Brazil's southeastern coast.
Anadarko is the operator with a 30 percent stake in the BM-C-30 block off the coast of Espirito Santo. Devon Energy Corp. has a 25 percent working interest. EnCana Brasil Petroleo, a unit of Bharat PetroResources Limited and Videocon Industries, holds a 25 percent stake and SK do Brazil the remaining 20 percent.
Anadarko said the 1-APL-1-ESS well is about 25 miles southeast of Petrobras' subsalt well in the giant Jubarte field, where Brazil began its first output from a subsalt well a few weeks ago.
Results at the field known by the name 'Wahoo' were "based on wireline logs (that) indicate at least 195 feet of net pay with similar characteristics to the nearby Jubarte 1-ESS-103A well," Anadarko said in a release.
The Jubarte subsalt well produced initial flow rates of about 18,000 barrels a day of light oil.
"Our first operated pre-salt test in Brazil is a resounding success as we're seeing data that mirrors other very significant pre-salt discoveries in this prolific area," Anadarko Senior Vice President Worldwide Exploration Bob Daniels said.
Anadarko said it planned to move its Deepwater Millennium drillship to the Serpa field prospect, in which it has a 30 percent interest, in the BM-ES-24 block in the Espirito Santo Basin. There, it plans to reenter a well that showed signs of subsalt hydrocarbons but was limited by a lesser drilling rig's capabilities.
The Wahoo well is drilling at 18,600 feet. Devon said in a statement the potential field had at least 150 feet of net pay and the well would continue drilling until it reaches a target depth of 20,000 feet.
"We are encouraged by what we have seen so far in the Wahoo well," said Stephen J. Hadden, senior vice president of exploration and production at Devon.
The BM-C-30 block is one of nine in which Devon has participation in Brazil. The Deepwater Discovery drillship is currently under long-term contract with Devon and is expected to arrive in Brazil in early 2009 to begin drilling.
Brazil plans to revise its Petroleum Law to give the state a larger stake in big subsalt oil deposits and may switch to a production-sharing model. It has used a concessionary model and officials say existing exploratory and production licenses in the subsalt band will be honoured.
Author: Jo Amey
