Marlim Sul

Marlim Sul Oil and Gas Field Profile

Location and Geology

• The Marlim Sul Oil and Gas Field is located in the Campos Basin, off the northern shore of the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. It is situated approximately 110 km offshore.
• The field spans a large area with water depths varying from 720 meters in the north to 2,600 meters in the south, with about 80% of the field area in waters deeper than 1,200 meters.

Discovery and Production

• The Marlim Sul field was discovered in November 1987 by the wildcat well 4-RJS-382.
• Production began in April 1994, with the initial production coming from the well 3-MRL-4-RJS linked to the P-20 platform.

Reserves and Production Capacity

• The field is estimated to contain 8.056 billion barrels of oil in place and 1.226 billion cubic meters of gas in place. The recoverable oil reserves are approximately 2.819 billion barrels as of 2018.
• As of 2020, the cumulative production from the field was 1.344 billion barrels of oil and 27.877 billion cubic meters of gas. In 2022, the field produced 12.23 million barrels of oil per year and 257.22 million cubic meters of gas per year.
• The field currently produces around 185,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d) and 2.5 million cubic meters of gas per day, accounting for about 13% of Petrobras' oil production in Brazil.

Development Modules

• The development of Marlim Sul is divided into four modules to manage risks and optimize production:
  • Module 1: This phase includes 35 wells (21 producers and 14 water injectors) with some wells tied to the P-40, P-37, and P-26 platforms. The FPSO Marlim Sul platform, operating since mid-2004, increased the oil production capacity. This module also includes the P-56 platform, which can produce 100,000 b/d, compress 6 million cubic meters of gas per day, and inject up to 45,000 cubic meters of water per day.
  • Module 2: Started in 1999 with an extended production test using two wells connected to an FPSO. This module includes 10 producers and 9 injectors in water depths of 1,200-1,700 meters. Production from Module 2 began in 2006, with the production unit capable of processing 180,000 b/d.
  • Module 3 and 4: These modules continue the phased development approach, each with specific production and injection well configurations tailored to the varying reservoir conditions and water depths.

Well Construction and Reservoir Engineering

• The wells in Marlim Sul are primarily horizontal, with some reaching lengths of over 500 meters. The wells require sand control and openhole gravel packs due to the unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs. The typical casing program includes multiple layers to ensure stability and efficiency.
• The reservoirs consist of Oligo-miocene and Eocene turbidity sandstones with excellent rock quality, porosity ranging from 25-38%, and permeability between 2-16 darcies. The pay zones are typically thin, between 10-20 meters, with a maximum thickness of 100 meters. Water injection is necessary to maintain reservoir pressure.

Platforms and Infrastructure

• The field uses several platforms and FPSOs, including the P-40, P-37, P-26, P-56, and the FPSO Marlim Sul. These platforms are equipped to handle the complex logistics of deepwater production, including oil processing, gas compression, and water injection.
• The oil is transferred to alleviator vessels for further transport to onshore terminals, while the gas is compressed and sent to other platforms for processing and export.

Recent Developments

• In 2023, Petrobras initiated a redevelopment phase for the Marlim field, including the Marlim Sul area, aiming to increase the recovery factor with the startup of two new FPSOs. This redevelopment also focuses on exploring pre-salt upside and includes the Brava discovery.

Operator and Ownership

• The Marlim Sul Oil and Gas Field is operated and owned entirely by Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.).