Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) has given permission to Repsol Sinopec Brasil to operate an offshore drilling rig in the Campos Basin’s Block BM-C-33. The permit is valid until November 30, 2017.
The institute did not reveal the name of the rig, but this could be related to the last week’s announcement made by Ocean Rig which said that on November 4, 2013, the Ocean Rig Mylos drillship began drilling operations under the three year contract with Repsol Sinopec Brasil S.A. Repsol Sinopec, however, did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking confirmation, sent by Offshore Energy Today.
Repsol Sinopec Brasil estimates that Block BM-C-33, in the deepwater Campos Basin, contains resources of more than 700 million barrels of light oil and 3 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas.
Block BM-C-33, off the coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, is the site of the recent Seat, Gávea and Pão de Açúcar discoveries.
Pão de Açúcar (eng. Sugarloaf Mountain), one of the world’s top five discoveries in 2012, is named after a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Repsol Sinopec Brasil was created at the end of 2010 to develop exploration and production projects in the country. Repsol has 60% stake and Sinopec owns the remaining 40%.
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff, November 11, 2013