Brazil's federal energy major Petrobras said it will boost ultra-deepwater production by installing a second electrical subsea pump in the Gulf of Mexico this year.

The pump, capable of functioning at depths of up to 2.5km, will begin operating in the Chinook field by December, Petrobras said in a statement.

The announcement comes after Petrobras tested the technology for the first time at the nearby Cascade field during the first quarter.

According to the Rio de Janeiro-based firm, the system increases production by reducing pressure at the bottom of the well.

The Cascade and Chinook fields are located 24km apart, about 260km off the coast of the US state of Louisiana.

Petrobras operates both fields, with a 100% stake in Cascade and 67% in Chinook.