Buzios: The Largest Ultra-Deepwater Oilfield to Date

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a general overview of the Buzios field development plan, projects’ features, and main achievements so far. The development plan adopted a strategy to pursue the balance between acceleration and cash flow optimization, to maximize the return on the huge investment on the block acquisition, and the risk management related to developing several Greenfield Projects simultaneously. To reduce reservoir uncertainties, a comprehensive data acquisition plan was crafted and implemented considering: (a) seismic acquisition, (b) drilling, logging and testing several exploratory and appraisal wells, (c) massive rock and fluid data sampling along the reservoirs, (d) execution of one Extended Well Test and three Early Production Systems. Additionally, the basic design of wells, subsea systems and Floating Production Storage and Offloading ("FPSO") provided flexibility to cover remaining uncertainties yet present in the Transfer of Rights ("ToR") scope, which allows up to 3,150 billion barrels of oil equivalent ("boe") to be produced. This led to technological challenges that needed to be addressed during project planning. We believe that the innovative solutions applied enhanced currently available technologies and delivered an important legacy to the offshore oil and gas industry. Finally, the results obtained so far, with the ramp-up of Buzios projects 1, 2, 3, and 4 provide evidence of the successful adopted strategy and reinforce the decision of deployment of a fifth FPSO under the scope of the ToR contract. The strong results of the asset led to the acquisition of 90% of the Transfer of Rights Surplus ("ToR+"), together with CNOOC Petroleum Brasil Ltda. (5%) and CNODC Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda. (5%), which now paves the way for a second wave of development, including the deployment of up to seven additional FPSOs.