Voador

Location and Geology

The Voador field is situated in the Campos basin, one of the most prolific oil-producing regions in Brazil. This basin is known for its deepwater fields, and the Voador field is part of this deepwater environment.

Production History and Current Status

The Voador field has been in production for several years. Initially, it was part of a group of fields including Espadarte and Marimba, with combined production expected to reach 147,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d) and 2.5 million cubic meters per day of natural gas by 2001.

In recent years, the field has undergone a revitalization project. Petrobras started production from the FPSO (Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading) unit Anna Nery in 2023, which is part of the Marlim and Voador Revitalization project. This project also includes the FPSO Anita Garibaldi, both of which are designed to increase the longevity of the fields and expand production.

Revitalization Project

The Marlim and Voador Revitalization project aims to enhance production from these mature fields. The project involves the deployment of two FPSOs:

• Anna Nery: Started operations in 2023, with a production capacity of up to 70,000 b/d of oil and processing capacity of up to 7 million cubic meters per day of gas.
• Anita Garibaldi: Also started operations in 2023, with similar capacities to the Anna Nery FPSO. Together, these FPSOs can produce up to 150,000 b/d of oil and process up to 11 million cubic meters of gas per day.

These FPSOs are replacing nine stationary production units, which will be decommissioned, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50%.

Infrastructure and Operations

The project includes the decommissioning of older platforms and the installation of new FPSOs. The FPSOs will operate in both the post-salt and pre-salt layers of the Campos basin. The infrastructure work involves drilling new wells, installing flowlines and risers, and commissioning new facilities to support the increased production.

Financial and Development Aspects

The development of the Voador field, along with the Barracuda and Caratinga fields, was supported by a significant financing package. In 2000, Petrobras secured $3.59 billion in international credit, with $2.5 billion allocated for the Barracuda and Caratinga fields and $1.1 billion for the additional development of the Espadarte, Voador, and Marimba fields.

The revitalization project is part of a broader strategy to maintain and increase production in the Campos basin, with total projected investments and financing arrangements contributing to the overall development of the region.

Environmental Impact

The revitalization project is designed to reduce environmental impact by decommissioning older platforms and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By consolidating production onto fewer, more efficient FPSOs, Petrobras aims to lower its carbon footprint significantly.

Future Outlook

The Marlim and Voador Revitalization project is expected to contribute to an increase in production in the Campos basin, targeting 920,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) by 2027, up from the current 565,000 boe/d.

In summary, the Voador oil project is a key component of Petrobras's efforts to maintain and enhance oil and gas production in the Campos basin, leveraging significant financial and technological investments to ensure sustainable and efficient operations.