Category: Last News

Petrobras Confirms New Oil Discovery in Santos Basin

Petrobras has confirmed the presence of high-quality, contaminant-free oil in well 3-BRSA-1396D-SP, located in the Aram block of the Santos Basin. The well, drilled at a water depth of 1,952 meters, revealing a promising oil-bearing interval through electric logs, gas evidence, and fluid sampling.

Laboratory analyses will follow to further assess the reservoir’s characteristics and production potential, a critical step in defining the commercial viability of the asset.

“The Aram block has been operated by Petrobras since 2020, with the Oil Company holding an 80% stake in partnership with CNPC, which owns the remaining 20%. This marks the second discovery in the block since March, further highlighting the Oil Company’s unmatched ability to lead new discoveries and projects in Brazil. Petrobras’ human and technical resources are truly remarkable.”, says Anidio Corrêa, R&D Environment Projects Lead.

Karoon Energy Acquires FPSO Cidade de Itajaí for $115 Million

Karoon Energy has finalized its $115 million acquisition of the FPSO Cidade de Itajaí from Altera & Ocyan. The deal, which also includes approximately $8 million in transaction costs, was initiated in February.

Operating in the Baúna Field in the Santos Basin since 2013, the FPSO has a production capacity of up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day (boed) and a gas compression capacity of 2 million cubic meters per day.

Karoon, which has owned the Baúna Field since 2020, now takes full control of both the field and its production vessel. The company plans to transfer operational management to a new operator by mid-2025. Until then, Altera & Ocyan will continue to oversee operations.

“Taking ownership of the Cidade de Itajaí FPSO marks a further significant milestone in Karoon’s evolution over the past five years, from an explorer to an operator of offshore oil and gas production assets,” said Julian Fowles, CEO and Managing Director of Karoon.

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is underway in Houston, running from May 5 to 8, and is expected to attract over 30,000 professionals. High-profile figures like Magda Chambriard, CEO of Petrobras, and Sérgio Bacci, CEO of Transpetro – Petrobras Transporte S. A., are among the attendees, reinforcing the event’s significance as a global hub for the offshore energy sector.

Representing the Westhon Group, Alvaro Antunes, CEO of Intcom Solutions and partner at WSB Advisors, is attending this year’s edition. “It’s always great to be at OTC. The entire city embraces the conference, and there are several other side events happening at the same time. It’s an incredible opportunity to gain insights from all the major market players and share them with both WSB and Intcom,” Antunes shares.

Discussions at OTC and related events are focused on critical topics like energy transition, decarbonization, market integration, project financing, and technological innovation. With its vast reserves and growing production, Brazil plays a key role in this context, emerging as a strategic player in the global energy market.

Brazil’s Role in the Global Energy Transition

At a parallel event, the fourth edition of the “Business Roundtable” brought together around 200 representatives from shipyards, equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, and operators, exploring opportunities linked to Petrobras’ robust investment plans.

Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard highlighted the significance of these initiatives, stating, “Strengthening the national shipbuilding industry is essential to ensuring operational safety, creating qualified jobs, and fostering regional development. Brazil has all the potential to become a competitive hub for offshore engineering and construction.”

Renata Baruzzi, Petrobras’ Director of Engineering, Technology, and Innovation, reinforced this perspective, adding, “The growth of Brazil’s shipbuilding industry is strategic for maintaining the competitiveness of our projects. We are committed to enhancing demand predictability, supporting local suppliers, and encouraging partnerships with foreign companies, always focusing on excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.”

By Pedro Pellegrini

Dear All,

WSB is pleased to provide an update on the current long-term tenders that are open to offer.

Open tenders:

What has changed?

• Petrobras 18x PSVs: Opportunity 7004439824 released Apr 24th, 2025;
• Petrobras Wells P&A: Opportunity 7004427678 released Apr 04th, 2025;
• Petrobras SEP 1x PSV MUF: Opportunity 7004436596 new deadline May 20th, 2025;
• Petrobras SEP 1x PSV GC: Opportunity 7004436597 new deadline May 22th, 2025;
• Petrobras SEP 6x PSVs: Opportunity 7004431928 new deadline May 20th, 2025;
• Petrobras 2x AHTS-TO: Opportunity 7004388639 new deadline May 05th, 2025.

What else is happening?

• Petrobras launches a new tender for 18 PSVs, bringing the total to 26 vessels in just a few days and heating up the Brazilian market for offshore support.
• Drillship Atlantic Zonda kicks off its first deepwater drilling campaign in Brazil, marking a new milestone in the country’s offshore exploration.

Yesterday (April 24), Petrobras has launched a large-scale tender to charter up to 18 Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs). The deadline for proposal submissions is May 19 at 5:00 p.m., and the opportunity is open to both Brazilian and international flags. Contracts will have a duration of four years.

The process follows Petrobras’ traditional closed-bid model, with the lowest price as the primary selection criteria, followed by an evaluation of each vessel’s technical specifications.

The opportunity includes:
• Up to 5 General Cargo PSVs (CG)
• Up to 8 Multipurpose (MUF) or Fluid Carrier (FLU) PSVs
• Up to 2 PSVs of the Hybrid type
• Up to 3 Multipurpose (MUF) or Fluid Carrier (FLU) PSVs — on separate commencement dates.

All vessels must have a deadweight (DWT) of either 3,000 or 4,500 tons. Full details are outlined in the tender documents.

Expected mobilization timelines:
• Lot A – January 2026 or within 180 days after contract signing
• Lots B and C – May 2026 or within 240 days after contract signing
• Lot D – September 2026 or within 305 days after contract signing

The volume of vessels under consideration is significant. Petrobras currently has three other ongoing PSV tenders, which could bring the total to 26 new vessels contracted in the coming months.

“The last time we saw something like this was in 2023, when the company launched tenders for 20 and then 21 vessels. This new opportunity is certainly a chance for companies that have been off the radar to re-engage with the market,” says Pedro Pellegrini, Intern Shipbroker at WSB Advisors.