ANP authorizes Petrobras to resume Foz do Amazonas drilling

Feb. 4 – The National Petroleum Agency (ANP) has authorized Petrobras to resume drilling in block FZA-M-059, in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, off the coast of Amapá. As a reminder, activity has been suspended since January 4th, following a loss of drilling fluid on the Foresea drillship ODN-II.

In the official letter sent by the ANP to Petrobras, the agency stated that, considering the technical analyses carried out and the mitigating measures proposed by the company, there is no longer any impediment to the resumption of drilling activities in the well.

The ANP conditioned the resumption of activity on compliance with certain measures, including the replacement of the joints in the pipelines that interconnect the subsea production lines.

At the time of the rig failure, Petrobras reported that the fluid loss was immediately contained and isolated. Drilling fluid is injected into the well to maintain ideal pressure, preventing the well walls from collapsing. It also serves to lubricate and cool the drill bit and to stop the ascent of gas and oil, in case of discovery.

The drilling of the pioneer well in block FZA-M-059, named Morpho, began in October of last year, in a water depth of 2,887 meters. At the time, Petrobras estimated that the activity would last approximately five months.