WorldOil

Exploration discoveries

Americas. Petrobras announced a gas discovery in the Espírito Santo Basin, offshore Brazil, with its 1 ESS-185D well drilled in Block ES-5. It found 331 ft of gas-saturated sandstone reservoir at a depth of 11,211 ft. The well is 19 mi offshore in 200 ft of water, and was drilled to a 14,833-ft TD. Petrobras is the operator with 65% interest, while El Paso holds the remaining 35%. Petrobras also made a light oil discovery with its 6-BFR-1-ESS and 6-BAZ-1DB-ESS wells in the Espírito Santo Basin, offshore Brazil. The company estimates that recoverable reserves are between 1.5 and 2.0 Bboe. The wells penetrated about 2,300 ft of salt and were drilled to 13,780 ft into pre-salt Cretaceous reservoirs, below existing production in the Baleia Franca, Baleia Azul and Jubarte heavy oil fields. Oil of 30°API gravity was found in pay zones that range 625-985 ft in net thickness. Petrobras discovered gas with its 1BRSA671ES well, drilled on Block ES-T-454 in the Espírito Santo Basin of Brazil. The well was drilled to a 6,588-ft TD; no other details were announced.