Petrobras Claims Oil from Santos Basin Spill Contained

Petrobras announced that no more traces of oil were found in the sea during overflights carried out Friday morning in the Carioca Nordeste area, in the Santos Basin. Therefore, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Emergency Plan and with the knowledge of the Navy, Ibama and ANP, contingency actions have been demobilized.

The vessels undertaking the Monitoring Plan deployed will remain in the area.

Petrobras said it has summoned the Company’s top specialists to put together the commission that is investigating the causes of the incident, full-time. It also counts on the support by its Research Center, universities, and global companies specialized in designing, testing, and analyzing submarine equipment.

The work by this technical commission will be monitored by ANP, the Brazilian Navy, and Ibama.

At 8:30 A.M. last Tuesday (Jan 31), Brazil’s oil company detected a production string rupture of the floating production, well intervention, storage, and offloading (FPWSO) Dynamic Producer.

The FPWSO is located approximately 300 kilometers off the coast of the state of São Paulo, where water depth reaches 2,140 meters. This vessel platform is conducting the Carioca Nordeste Extended Well Test (EWT), in the Santos Basin pre-salt region. The ANP sent its personnel aboard the FPWSO Dynamic Producer and collected information that will serve as input for the determination of the causes of the incident. IBAMA  was also on board in order to examine the role of Petrobras in spill response.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, February 6, 2012; Image: ANP