Sept. 2 (PN) Petrobras does not rule out the possibility of conducting simultaneous drilling operations using two rigs in Block FZA-M-59, located in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, at some point in the future. This possibility was discussed with the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) during a meeting in late August. However, according to Petrobras, there are no current plans for the simultaneous operation of the two offshore units.
During the meeting, the Ibama team questioned Petrobras regarding the selection of the offshore drilling unit to be used in the project’s subsequent stages. The company stated that it had requested the inclusion of the NS-43 unit (Constellation’s Amaralina Star) in the scope of the Operating License (LO), without replacing the NS-42 rig (Foresea’s ODN-II), which is currently completing the drilling of the Morpho wildcat well. According to the company, the request aims to increase operational flexibility for planning the exploration campaign.
Petrobras further affirmed that any offshore unit mobilized to operate in FZA-M-59 would be capable of fully complying with the environmental requirements established in the license, including the necessary facilities for collecting drill cuttings from the reservoir section.
Ibama, for its part, explained that the agency’s concern relates to defining the operational conditions that will serve as the basis for the license’s stipulations. The institute also highlighted the need for potential adjustments and prior inspections before a new offshore unit begins operations. The environmental agency’s team also inquired about the planning for upcoming drilling operations, given that the two rigs are also authorized to operate in blocks BM-POT-17 and POT-M-762 in the Potiguar Basin. The company stated that it does not yet have a finalized schedule for the next stages of the campaign, as decisions depend on the conclusion of the current exploratory phase and internal assessments.
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION PLAN UPDATE
Ibama also requested that Petrobras update the Social Communication Plan (SCP) related to the exploratory campaign in block FZA-M-59. According to the agency, the currently approved plan is structured around the drilling of the Morpho well and does not adequately address the project’s new phase, which includes the addition of three new wells.
Petrobras reported that the most recent version of the SCP is Revision 05, filed in November 2025, and that it intends to hold further information meetings between November and December 2026. However, Ibama emphasized that updating the materials should not wait for the in-person meetings to take place, given the expectations raised by the recent hydrocarbon discovery and the prospect of expanding exploratory activities. The company committed to promptly updating the information materials and project schedules.
Brazil Energy Insight 
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