Lapa South-West

Lapa South-West Oil Field Project Profile

Location and Geology

The Lapa South-West oil field is located in the Santos Basin, approximately 300 kilometers off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil. It is situated within the pre-salt layer of the BM-S-9A concession, at a water depth of about 2,150 meters.

Project Details

• Operator and Ownership: The project is operated by TotalEnergies, which holds a 45% stake. The other partners are Shell with a 30% interest and Repsol Sinopec with a 25% interest.
• Discovery and Production History: The Lapa field, previously known as Carioca, was discovered in 2007. Commercial production from the north-east part of the Lapa field began in late 2016. The Lapa South-West project is an extension of this field.
• Final Investment Decision (FID): TotalEnergies approved the final investment decision for the Lapa South-West project in January 2023.

Development Plan

• Wells and Infrastructure: The development involves drilling three wells that will be tied back to the existing Cidade de Caraguatatuba MV27 Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, located 12 kilometers away.
• Subsea Production System: The project includes the installation of up to three subsea trees and control systems, tie-ins, subsea structures, subsea umbilicals, and flowlines. Aker Solutions and Saipem are contracted to provide the subsea production system, including engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) services.
• FPSO Details: The Cidade de Caraguatatuba MV27 FPSO, owned and operated by MODEC, has a production capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and a storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels of crude oil. It also has a water injection capacity of 120,000 barrels per day and a gas production capacity of 177 million metric standard cubic feet per day (Mmscfd).

Production and Impact

• Production Start: Production from the Lapa South-West field is expected to commence in 2025.
• Production Increase: The project will increase the total production from the Lapa field by 25,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), bringing the overall production to 60,000 bopd.

Investment and Contractors

• Investment: The estimated investment for the project is approximately $1 billion.
• Contractors: Aker Solutions and Saipem have been awarded the contract for the supply of the subsea production system. Saipem will utilize its Guarujá CTCO (Centro de Tecnologia e Construção Offshore) for logistic activities and manufacturing operations.

Strategic Significance

• TotalEnergies' Strategy: The project aligns with TotalEnergies' strategy to focus on low-cost, low-emissions assets. It represents an important milestone for the company in Brazil, enhancing its operated production in the pre-salt Santos Basin.
• TotalEnergies in Brazil: TotalEnergies has been active in Brazil for over 40 years, with operations spanning exploration and production, gas, renewable energies, lubricants, chemicals, and distribution. The company employs more than 3,000 people in Brazil and had an average production of 103,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2022.

Additional Context

• Partnerships and Alliances: TotalEnergies has a strategic alliance with Petrobras for exploration and production, gas, renewables, and power activities. The company is also expanding its presence in the Brazilian renewable sector through its subsidiary Total Eren.
• Local Content: The project involves significant local content, with Saipem utilizing its Guarujá CTCO for various manufacturing and logistic activities.