Brazil regulator rejects Total’s Foz do Amazonas drilling plan

Brazil’s environmental regulator, Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (Ibama), has rejected an environmental impact study presented by Total for oil exploration in the Foz do Amazonas (Mouth of Amazon) Basin. 

The environmental impact study relates to the drilling of up to nine wells in blocks FZA-M-57, 86, 88, 125, and 127, in the Foz do Amazonas basin near a coral reef discovered in 2016. Total is the operator of these blocks with BP and Petrobras as partners. Total has 40% interest in each block and BP and Petrobras each hold 30% interest in every block.

The massive reef is about 9,500 square kilometers of formations including giant sponges and calcareous algae, called rhodolith. Scientists believe that the Amazon reef, which spans from Brazil to the border with French Guiana, could be a new marine biome.

Ibama rejected the study on Monday, August 28. The president of Ibama, Suely Araújo, cited technical opinions that prevented the issuance of a license for oil exploration activities in the region.

“Oil dispersion modeling, for example, can leave no doubt about the potential impacts on the coral bank and marine biodiversity. It also highlights the need for international negotiations related to potential cross-border risks in the licensing of maritime drilling and the interlocution with French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela, as well as the Caribbean archipelago,” said Araújo.

The president added that, since Ibama already went through this licensing process three times, the oil company would have only one more attempt to meet the requirements of the environmental study. If the requirements are not met, the licensing process will be terminated.

When looked at in greater detail, Ibama rejected the environmental impact study by Total due to interference with aquatic mammals, turtles, avifauna as well as the potential influence of eventual leaks.

The Institute also stated that it requires clarifications on hydrodynamic modeling, oil dispersion modeling and re-adaptation of dispersion modeling of pollutants in ship routes.

Before the plan was rejected, Total expected to start the drilling activities in 2017 in water depth of more than 1,900, and at a distance between 120 and 188 km offshore the municipality of Oiapoque in the State of Amapá.

Earlier this month, Greenpeace UK activists staged a protest in front of the UK headquarters of the oil giant BP, Total’s partner in Brazil, protesting against the company’s plans to drill near the coral reef off Brazil.

In addition to partnership with Total in five Foz do Amazonas blocks, BP is the operator of the FZA-M-59 block, located in the same basin.

Offshore Energy Today Staff