Lapa

Location and Geology

• The Lapa oil field, including the Lapa South West project, is located in the pre-salt Santos Basin, approximately 270-300 km off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil. The field is situated within the BM-S-9A concession at a water depth of around 2,150 meters.

Field History and Discovery

• The Lapa oil field, formerly known as the Carioca field, was discovered in September 2007 with the drilling of the 1-BRSA-491-SPS (Carioca) well. Additional discoveries were made in subsequent years, including the 4-SPS-66C Abare West well in 2009 and the 3-BRSA-861-SPS (Carioca Nordeste) well in 2011.

Current Production and Expansion

• Commercial production from the Lapa field began in December 2016, utilizing the Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Cidade de Caraguatatuba MV27. The current production is from the north-east part of the field.
• The Lapa South West project, approved in January 2023, involves the development of the south-west part of the Lapa field. This project will include the drilling of three wells that will be tied back to the existing FPSO vessel, Cidade de Caraguatatuba MV27, located 12 km away. The project is expected to increase the total production from the Lapa field by 25,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) to 60,000 bopd when production commences in 2025.

Partners and Ownership

• The Lapa South West project is operated by TotalEnergies, which holds a 45% stake. Other partners include Shell with a 30% interest and Repsol Sinopec with a 25% interest. Historically, the block BM-S-9A was under concession to Petrobras (45%), BG Group (30%), and Repsol Sinopec (25%), but in 2018, Petrobras transferred its 45% share to TotalEnergies.

Infrastructure and Facilities

• The development of the Lapa South West field will utilize the existing facilities and infrastructure of the Lapa oil field, including the Cidade de Caraguatatuba MV27 FPSO. This FPSO has an oil production capacity of 100,000 bopd, a gas production capacity of 177 million metric standard cubic feet per day (Mmscfd), a storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels of crude oil, and a water injection capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. The FPSO is equipped with SOFEC’s ABS-classed spread mooring system.

Subsea Production System

• The subsea production system for the Lapa South West field includes up to three subsea trees and control systems, tie-ins, subsea structures, subsea umbilicals, and flowlines. Aker Solutions and Saipem have been contracted to provide the subsea production system, including engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) services. Saipem will utilize its Guarujá CTCO (Centro de Tecnologia e Construção Offshore) for logistic activities and manufacturing operations.

Investment and Contractors

• The development of the Lapa South West field involves an estimated investment of approximately $1 billion. In addition to Aker Solutions and Saipem, other contractors involved in the project include MODEC, which owns and operates the FPSO, and other companies that contributed to the construction and operation of the FPSO, such as Mitsui E&S Holdings, TOYO Offshore Production Systems (MTOPS), and Sofec.

Environmental and Strategic Considerations

• The Lapa South West project aligns with TotalEnergies’ strategy to focus on low-cost, low-emissions assets. The efficient engineering approach and the use of existing facilities are key aspects of this strategy.

TotalEnergies in Brazil

• TotalEnergies has been active in Brazil for over 40 years, with operations spanning exploration and production of oil and gas, renewable energies, chemicals, lubricants, and distribution. The company employs more than 3,000 people in Brazil and has a significant presence in various sectors, including a strategic alliance with Petrobras for exploration, production, gas, renewables, and power activities.

In summary, the Lapa oil project, including the Lapa South West expansion, is a significant offshore oil development in the Santos Basin, Brazil, characterized by its deepwater location, complex subsea infrastructure, and strategic partnerships. The project is set to enhance TotalEnergies' presence in Brazil and contribute to the country's oil production capacity.