Chevron Corp. has received final approval to restart oil production from Frade field off Brazil and was expected to bring the field on at about 20,000 b/d, said Inpex Corp., one of the partners.

Production was halted following a November 2011 offshore oil seep in the Campos basin. At that time, production was 70,000 b/d. Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP) recently announced that production will be lower for the restart. In addition, regulators have said Chevron is to provide periodic reports regarding the reservoir conditions.

In 2011, Chevron reported well-control operations significantly reduced an oil seep believed to be coming from an appraisal well (OGJ, Nov. 21, 2011, Newsletter).Earlier this year, a Brazilian judge dropped criminal charges against Chevron, drilling contractor Transocean Ltd., and 17 of their employees regarding the November 2011 seep (OGJ Online, Feb. 21, 2013).

Chevron has a 51.74% operating interest in Frade field. Partners are Petroleo Brasileiro SA 30%, and Frade Japao Petroleo Ltda., a joint venture of Inpex Corp., Sojitz Corp., and Japan Oil, Gas & Metals Corp. 18.26%.

Chevron started production at Frade field in 2009.