The Brazilian Institute of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (IBP) gathered last week specialists from the sector to present the Rio Oil & Gas 2018 to São Paulo businessmen. Held at Fiesp's headquarters, the event highlighted the role that the state will play in this moment of resumption of the oil industry, when most of the pre-salt fields are located in São Paulo waters of the Santos Basin.

"São Paulo already ranks second in the ranking of the largest national oil producers, accounting for 14% of the 2.73 million barrels / day produced last year. In this scenario, the state has greater potential for growth with the transformation experienced by Brazilian oil and gas sector, "explained Jorge Camargo, president of the Rio Oil & Gas Organizing Committee. "The new scenario, by the way, brings great opportunities, and the industrial park and the dynamism of São Paulo's economy are positive for the industry," he added.

As the exploration of the pre-salt fields advances, São Paulo's representation in national activity tends to increase even more - as well as opportunities for the state. According to Mauro Andrade, Statoil's Vice President of Supply Chain, the positive effects will come not only because of the industrial base that São Paulo already has, but also because of the need for maritime and air support bases that will arrive very soon.

"Statoil, for example, is the operator of the Carcará field, located in the Santos Basin, in the state of São Paulo, where we are drilling the first exploration well of the company's second largest production asset. approximately 2 billion barrels recoverable, "said Andrade. "According to our timeline, production is expected to start in 2023/2024, which means a short term in the oil sector, and will obligatorily make Statoil access the supplier market, making it possible to increase the percentage of content local in the active ", finished.

Transformation of the oil industry

During the event, Camargo also recalled the moment of transformation experienced by the oil industry in Brazil from the energy transition and the opening of the refining market. "This is perhaps the biggest transformation in the history of the sector, even greater than the change that occurred 20 years ago with the opening of the exploration and production market," he said.

São Paulo has already demonstrated its interest in taking advantage of the opportunities brought by such a moment. "Without the Repetro there is no oil industry in Brazil. While Rio de Janeiro, the largest national oil producer, is still discussing the issue in the Chamber of Deputies, São Paulo joined the regime the day after the national sanction," said Camargo .

The 2018 edition of Rio Oil & Gas is proof of São Paulo's appetite for the oil industry: 35% of the exhibitors confirmed for the event are from São Paulo. "Events like Rio Oil & Gas are extremely important because they bring the industry together for the most important discussions," said Dirceu Abrahão, undersecretary of Oil and Gas of the state of São Paulo.

The Rio Oil & Gas launch event in São Paulo was attended by the Deputy Secretary of Oil and Gas of the State of São Paulo, Dirceu Abrahão, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Rio Oil & Gas, Jorge Camargo, the vice president of Supply Chain of Statoil, Mauro Andrade, and the executive director of Petrobras Production and Technology Development, Hugo Repsold.