Petrobras has launched a market inquiry to verify the availability of a drilling rig for 3,900 m of water depth. The RFI (request for information) was released earlier in the year, without the oil company indicating the deadline for delivery, charter time or destination lease of the unit, and was due for delivery by February 8.
The consultation surprised drilling companies, which do not have rigs capable of operating at that depth. Petrobras’ RFI has focused on analysis of the area, which would be advancing to possible future demands.
The market suspects the RFI has the possibility of focusing some of the blocks that will be offered in the 4th bidding round, scheduled to be held on June 7, or in the 15th round, scheduled for March 29. Petrobras exercised the preemptive rights for Dois Irmãos, Três Marias and Uirapuru.
Although it surprised the market with the query, Petrobras is not the first oil company to launch RFI for ultra-deep rigs, near the 4 thousand m of water depth. Last year, some large foreign companies made such consultations, without doing any business.
Some drilling companies credit Petrobras’ initiative to encourage companies to begin interacting with their suppliers to develop equipment for these new horizons. “It’s a kind of market test,” says one industry source.
In the RFI, Petrobras did not ask for prices, but only an indication of whether or not they have units that fit this profile. Petrobras portfolio of oil drilling rigs has units capable of up to 3 thousand m of water depth.
Source: Brazil Energy
Brazil Energy Insight 
Leave a comment