South American waters yield more gas: Petrobras makes new find in Colombia

March 18, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Brazil’s state-owned energy giant Petrobras has boosted South America’s energy arsenal with a new gas discovery off the coast of Colombia.

Noble Discoverer semi-submersible rig; Source: Noble via LinkedIn

While confirming a new gas discovery in the Copoazu-1 exploratory well, Petrobras explains that this discovery in Block GUA-OFF-O within deep waters off Colombia’s coast consolidates the gas province and the gas potential in the Colombian offshore, while adding a greater volume of gas to contribute to the region’s energy security.

The well lies approximately 36 kilometers from the coast, at a water depth of 964 meters and 8 kilometers from the Sirius-1 discovery and Sirius-2 appraisal wells, said to highlight its relevance within the exploratory context of Block GUA-OFF-0. The Copoazu‑1 well was spud on November 11, 2025.

The drilling is perceived to be progressing safely, with respect for the environment and people. The gas-bearing intervals were identified through electric logs and fluid sampling, confirming the presence of gas in an additional objective beyond the main one, making the discovery even more significant.

The Brazilian giant underlines that the gas-bearing intervals will be further characterized by laboratory analyses. The firm’s activities in Block GUA-OFF-0 are seen as being aligned with the company’s long-term strategy, aiming to replenish oil and gas reserves through exploration of new frontiers and partnerships with other companies.

This strategy aims to ensure the supply of global energy demand during the energy transition. Petrobras, through its subsidiary, Petrobras International Braspetro B.V – Colombia Branch (PIB-COL), acts as the operator of the consortium (44.44% interest), in partnership with Ecopetrol (55.56%).

After the Brazilian firm’s Colombian subsidiary hired the Noble Discoverer semi-submersible rig in December 2023 to provide offshore drilling services in Colombia, the company extended the rig’s job by 390 days in April 2025.

The 2009-built DSS-21 column-stabilized, dynamically positioned, sixth-generation semi-submersible drilling rig can operate in water depths of up to 10,000 feet (3.05 kilometers) and has a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 feet (12.19 kilometers).