April marked a significant milestone for Sergipe’s oil and gas sector with the start of decommissioning operations for fixed platforms in shallow waters. The arrival of the PA-38 jack-up rig to the Sergipe Basin, contracted by Petrobras, initiated activities at the Guaricema field, located approximately 9 km off the Sergipe coast.

The operations involve removing installations, properly disposing of materials, and carrying out environmental recovery in areas where oil operations on platforms and wells have been permanently halted. This phase is part of Petrobras' Facility Decommissioning Program in the state, which includes projected investments of around US$1.7 billion by 2029, under the company’s 2025–2029 Strategic Business Plan.

The Sergipe-Alagoas Basin is the second-largest recipient of Petrobras’ decommissioning investments in Brazil, totaling R$8.9 billion—second only to the Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro, which is set to receive over R$30 billion. Petrobras plans to decommission 26 production units in Sergipe, creating new opportunities for the regional industry and boosting the local supplier chain.

According to Valmor Barbosa, head of the State Secretariat for Economic Development and Science and Technology (Sedetec), this is a major challenge for the state. “It’s a new scenario but one that will yield great benefits for Sergipe through job creation and new opportunities. Historically, our state has played a key role in Brazil’s oil and gas supply chain, and decommissioning represents another phase in that cycle,” he stated.

Background

Petrobras’ offshore activities in Sergipe began in 1989 with the arrival of the first mobile drilling platform built in Brazil. The first successful well drilled on the Brazilian continental shelf was at the Guaricema field, kick-starting oil and gas production in the region.

Over the years, Petrobras significantly expanded its operations in Sergipe’s shallow waters, installing 27 platforms in the Guaricema, Caioba, Camorim, Dourado, and Robalo fields. In 2020, the company announced the closure of its shallow-water exploration activities in the state, officially ending its operations in those areas.

SEAP Project

The Sergipe Deep Waters Project (SEAP) by Petrobras is expected to transform both the Sergipe and broader Brazilian energy markets. Currently in the FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) platform contracting phase, the company estimates operations will begin in 2030. The deadline for proposal submissions is June 16, 2025. Each unit will have the capacity to process up to 120,000 barrels of oil and 18 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.