MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Petrobras strikes high-quality oil in Santos Basin Pre-Salt Aram block

The exploratory well in the Aram block, is located 248 kilometers off the Santos coast, at a water depth of 1,952 meters

Petrobras has announced a new oil discovery in the pre-salt Santos Basin, identifying “high-quality oil without contaminants” at the 3-BRSA-1396D-SPS exploratory well in the Aram block, located 248 kilometers off the coast of Santos, at a water depth of 1,952 meters

The area was acquired in 2020 under Brazil’s sixth production sharing round, with Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA) acting as the contract manager. Petrobras holds an 80% operating interest in the block, with China’s CNPC owning the remaining 20%.

According to the Brazilian oil giant the discovery was confirmed using electric logs, gas indicators, and fluid samples, indicating a significant oil-bearing interval. Petrobras and its partner plan further laboratory analysis to assess the reservoir’s characteristics and commercial potential.

The consortium also intends to drill two additional wells and conduct a drill stem test as part of a broader appraisal plan, scheduled for completion by 2027.

This marks the latest in a series of discoveries by Petrobras in Brazil’s prolific pre-salt regions. Earlier, the company confirmed hydrocarbon presence in another well—4-BRSA-1395-SPS—also in the Aram block, and recently announced another find in the Campos Basin.

Petrobras continues to ramp up exploration efforts to expand its resource base, with more drilling and data acquisition planned in cooperation with Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP). These findings reinforce Brazil’s position as a key frontier in deep-water oil exploration.