Oil production remained practically stable, having increased by 0.1% compared to the previous month, but there was an expressive increase of 16.1% in comparison with March 2019. In relation to the production of natural gas, there was a reduction of 5.6% in relation to February, but there was an increase of 9.2% in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

The drop in gas production occurred mainly due to the scheduled stoppage of the FPSO Angra dos Reis, in the Lula field, and to lower production in fields that produce according to demand, such as those in the Parnaíba Basin whose production is destined for the supply of thermoelectric plant .

Pre-salt 

Pre-salt production in March originated from 117 wells and corresponded to 66.7% of national production, totaling 2,493 MMboe / d, of which 1,986 MMbbl / d of oil and 80.6 MMm3 / d of natural gas. Compared to the previous month, total production decreased by 0.2% and, compared to March 2019, there was a considerable increase of 28.8%.

Use of natural gas 

In February, the use of natural gas was 97.2%. 47.9 MMm³ / day were made available to the market. The flaring of gas in the month was 3,398 MMm³ / d, a reduction of 6.7% if compared to the previous month and 42.2% if compared to the same month in 2019, revealing that the efforts of the ANP and the operators for the reducing gas flaring are being effective.

There is a significant increase in gas injection in March. This is due to the increase in production in the Búzios field, which does not yet export gas. Additionally, the Lula field, despite having reduced production, increased injection. In relation to available natural gas, the drop in production from non-associated natural gas fields led to a reduction in the supply of available gas.

Origin of production 

In this month of March, offshore fields produced 96.7% of oil and 85.4% of natural gas. The fields operated by Petrobras were responsible for 94.3% of the oil and natural gas produced in Brazil. However, fields with exclusive participation by Petrobras produced 43.3% of the total.

Highlights 

The Lula field, in the Santos Basin, was the largest producer of oil and natural gas, registering 877 Mbbl / d of oil and 37.9 MMm3 / d of natural gas.

The Petrobras 69 platform, producing in the Lula field through six interconnected wells, produced 147.883 Mbbl / d of oil and was the facility with the highest oil production.

The Polo Arara installation, producing in the Arara Azul, Araracanga, Carapanaúba, Cupiúba, Rio Urucu and Sudoeste de Urucu fields, through 35 wells, produced 7.645 MMm³ / d and was the installation with the highest production of Natural Gas.

Estreito, in the Potiguar Basin, had the largest number of onshore producing wells: 1,077.

Marlim Sul, in the Campos Basin, was the maritime field with the largest number of producing wells: 64.

Marginal accumulation fields 

These fields produced 53 bbl / d of oil and 10 Mm³ / d of natural gas. The Iraí field, operated by Petroborn, was the largest producer, with 59.8 boe / d.

Other information - In March 2020, 298 areas granted, two areas for consideration and five areas for sharing, operated by 34 companies, were responsible for national production. Of these, 75 are offshore and 223 onshore, eight of which are for area contracts containing marginal accumulations. Production took place in 7,143 wells, 629 offshore and 6,514 onshore.

The average API grade was 27.7, with 3.3% of the production considered light oil (> = 31 ° API), 86.8% medium oil (> = 22 API and <31 API) and 9.9% oil heavy (<22 API).

The mature terrestrial basins (fields / long-term tests in the Espírito Santo, Potiguar, Recôncavo, Sergipe and Alagoas basins) produced 101.1 Mboe / d, of which 81.4 thousand bbl / d of oil and 3.1 MMm³ / d of natural gas. Of this total, 89,200 boe / d were produced by Petrobras and 11,900 boe / d were produced by concessions not operated by Petrobras, of which: 373 boe / d in Alagoas, 3,464 boe / d in Bahia, 39 boe / d in Espírito Santo, 7,819 boe / d in Rio Grande do Norte and 212 boe / d in Sergipe.