Higher Production by Petrobras in March

Petrobras production of oil and natural gas in Brazil and abroad, in March 2015, was 2 million 764 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe). Of these, 2 million 574 thousand boe were produced in Brazil and 189,900 boe abroad. The production of 2 million 764 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe) is 8.3% higher than the volume produced in March 2014 2,000,000 551,000 boed.

Oil and gas production in Brazil

Total production of oil and natural gas in Brazil, in March, was 2 million 574 thousand boed, 1.4% below the level recorded in February (2 million 612 thousand boe), and 10.4% higher than the production March 2014 (2 million 331 thousand boe).

Total production of oil and natural gas operated by Petrobras in Brazil, including hand operated to partner companies, was 2 million 834 thousand boed, 0.7% below the level recorded in February (2 million 854 thousand boe).

The exclusive oil production in Brazil Petrobras was 2 million 108 thousand barrels per day (bpd), 1.8% below February production of 2 million 146 thousand bpd.

Operated oil production in the country was 2 million 297 thousand bpd, 0.9 less than the previous month (2 million 319 thousand bpd).

The volume reduction occurred in March was due mainly to the temporary shutdown of the P-58 platform, which began operations on March 17, 2014 and is in the final phase of tests and adjustments in their production systems. Between March 18 and April 8, 2015, Petrobras halted production of the unit to perform preventive maintenance and improve the operational efficiency of some systems, complying with current regulations and determinations of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

Own production of natural gas in Brazil, regardless of the liquefied volume, was 74 million m³ / day in March, maintaining the same level as the previous month.

The production of liquefied gas without the volume, including the part of the partner companies, stood at 85.5 million m³ / day.

The utilization of gas produced remained at high levels, reaching 95.9% in March.

The pre-salt production in March rose 70% from the same period of 2014

In March 2015, production operated by Petrobras in the pre-salt layer of the Santos and Campos basins which includes the operated side for socias- companies will set a new record in March with a monthly average of 672,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), up 0.5 the previous record of 669,000 bbd in January 2015. This volume represents an increase of 70% compared to March 2014 production, which was 395,000 bpd.

Innovative pre-salt - Petrobras began operating last 26/03 the first riser (ascending product) installed in the pre-salt Santos Basin with Steel Lazy Wave Riser (SLWR) concept. It is a steel pipe equipped with a set of floats that determine the formation of a configuration swelling out in a given stretch of equipment by cushioning the impact of movements of the production platform.

This is one of the technologies that are part of the set of innovations implemented by Petrobras in the pre-salt and recognized by the OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) 2015 Award, given to the oil and gas company that has contributed to the technological development of the industry global offshore.

The SLWR was installed in the well 7-SPH-007, a sheet with depth of 2,140 meters, record depth for this type of application. The equipment interconnecting the well 7-SPH-007 to the vessel Cidade de Ilhabela platform in the northern part of the field Sapinhoá in the pre-salt Santos Basin. That well has registered the highest production per well in the pre-salt layer, with a flow of about 40,000 barrels per day.

Production abroad

Outside were produced in March, 189,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe), 0.6% more than the 188,700 boe produced the previous month.

The average oil production in March, to 101,900 barrels of oil per day (bpd), 1.6% was above the 100,400 bbd produced the previous month based mainly on the entry into production of new producing wells in the fields of Saint Malo and Lucius, United States.

The average natural gas production abroad, regardless of the liquid volume was 15 million m³ / d, remaining stable compared to the volume produced in the month of February, which was 15 million and 16 thousand m³ / d.