Petrobras announces that today (Wednesday, August 6) it started drilling the first exploration well in the Libra area. Called 3-RJS-731, the well is being drilled by drilling rig NS-36 (Schain Cerrado). This is the first of two wells planned for the first phase of the Minimum Exploration Program (known by Portuguese acronym PEM) agreed with Brazil’s National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP).

Well 3-RJS-731 will reach a final depth (depth of water and sediments) of 5,850 meters. It is positioned around 170 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, approximately 5 km southwest of discovery well 2-ANP-2A-RJS.

While drilling the exploration well, fundamental tests will be carried out to obtain information needed to develop Libra’s production.

Besides drilling these two wells, the PEM also involves conducting a 3D PSDM seismic survey of the whole block area, already completed, as well as an extended well test, to begin in December 2016. The entire Minimum Exploration Program will be completed by the end of 2017.

The Libra consortium is composed of Petrobras (operator and owner of a 40% stake), Shell (20%), Total (20%), CNPC (10%) and CNOOC (10%), together with Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA), the consortium manager.