Tupi (non-contracted area)

Tupi (Non-Contracted Area) Oil and Gas Field Profile

Location

The Tupi (non-contracted area) Oil and Gas Field, also known as Tupi Leste or East Tupi, is located offshore Brazil, predominantly within the Santos Basin. The exact coordinates are approximately -24.6499, -43.4723 (WGS 84).

Discovery and Production

• The field was discovered in 2007 as part of the larger Tupi oil province, which is considered the Western Hemisphere's largest oil discovery in 30 years.
• Production began in 2009, two years after the discovery.

Ownership and Operation

• The non-contracted area, Tupi Leste, belongs to the federal government and is represented by Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA).

Geology and Reservoirs

• The Tupi field lies in a pre-salt layer, characterized by microbial-type carbonatic rocks formed from microorganisms that fossilized millions of years ago. These reservoirs are located at depths of around 4,000 to 5,000 meters below the ocean floor, under thick layers of salt up to 2,000 meters in thickness.

Production and Reserves

• The field produces both oil and natural gas. As of 2020, the annual production figures were:
  • Oil: 1.52 million barrels per year.
  • Gas: 63.51 million cubic meters per year.
  • By 2022, oil production slightly decreased to 1.35 million barrels per year, and gas production was at 59.32 million cubic meters per year.
• The recoverable reserves in the broader Tupi area are significant, with estimates suggesting around 5 to 8 billion barrels of light oil and natural gas.

Development and Infrastructure

• The development of the Tupi field involves several phases, including pilot projects and the deployment of Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) units. For the contracted area, the FPSO Cidade de São Vicente and later Cidade de Angra dos Reis were used for the initial production phases.
• For the non-contracted area, specific infrastructure details are less detailed, but it is part of the larger pre-salt development strategy by Petrobras and other stakeholders.

Production Technologies and Challenges

• The production from the Tupi field requires advanced technologies due to the unique geological conditions, including the thick salt layers and deep reservoirs. New drilling projects and specialized well-bore construction techniques are necessary to access the hydrocarbons.
• The field's development also involves extended well tests (EWT) to understand the reservoir behavior, hydraulic communication, and potential damage to the geological formation.

Historical Naming Issues

• The field was initially named Tupi but was renamed to Lula in 2010. Following a citizen lawsuit, the field was renamed back to Tupi in 2020, with the non-contracted area specifically referred to as Tupi Leste or East Tupi.

Economic and Strategic Impact

• The Tupi field is crucial for Brazil's oil and gas sector, expected to significantly boost the country's oil and gas reserves. It is one of the most significant oil discoveries in the last 20 years and is projected to play a key role in doubling Brazil's oil production by the mid-2010s.

In summary, the Tupi (non-contracted area) Oil and Gas Field is a critical component of Brazil's pre-salt oil and gas reserves, characterized by its complex geology, significant production potential, and the need for advanced production technologies.