OTC-28159-MS

Campos and Santos Basins: 40 Years of Reservoir Characterization and

Management of Shallow- to Ultra-Deep Water, Post- and Pre-Salt
Reservoirs - Historical Overview and Future Challenges

Carlos H. L. Bruhn, Antonio C. C. Pinto, Paulo R. S. Johann, Celso C. M. Branco, Marcelo C. Salomão, and
Ednilson B. Freire, Petrobras E&P

Copyright 2017, Offshore Technology Conference

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Offshore Technology Conference Brasil held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 24–26 October 2017.

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Abstract
Petrobras found almost 100 hydrocarbon accumulations in the Campos and Santos basins, between 50 and
300 km off the Brazilian coast (under water depths from 80 to 2,400 m), which produce from very different
types of reservoirs, including mostly (1) pre-salt coquinas and microbialites, (2) post-salt calcarenites,
and (3) post-salt siliciclastic turbidites. These different types of reservoirs, containing also different types
of hydrocarbons and contaminants provided many challenges for their production development, related
to distinct tools and workflows for reservoir (static/dynamic) characterization and management, seismic
reservoir characterization and monitoring, recovery methods (water injection, WAG, etc.), well spacing,
well types and geometries, subsea systems, and processing capacity of production units.
Since the first oil and gas discoveries in the Campos (1974) and Santos (1979) basins, Petrobras
continuously moved to aggressive exploration and production from shallow- to deep- and ultra-deep waters.
During the last 40 years, the activities of reservoir characterization and management have also continuously
evolved. Four major phases can be depicted: (1) shallow water fields developed with a large number of
vertical or deviated wells (e.g. Namorado, and Pampo, Campos Basin); (2) deep water fields, still developed
with a large number of wells, but now combining vertical/deviated and horizontal wells (e.g. Marlim
and Albacora, Campos Basin); (3) deep to ultra-deep water, post-salt fields, containing light to heavy oil
(13-31 °API) in siliciclastic turbidites and carbonates, developed with a relatively small number of mostly
horizontal wells (e.g. Marlim Sul, and Barracuda, Campos Basin); (4) ultra-deep water, pre-salt fields with
very thick (up to 400-500 m), light oil (27-30 °API) carbonate reservoirs, developed with largely-spaced
vertical and deviated wells (e.g. Lula, and Buzios, Santos Basin).

Introduction
Campos and Santos basins are located in southeastern Brazil, mostly offshore of the states of Rio de Janeiro,
São Paulo, and Espirito Santo, occupying an area of almost 500,000 km2 until the water depth of 3,000 m
(Fig. 1). Oil exploration started in these basins in 1968 (Campos) and 1970 (Santos). The first oil discovery in
the Campos Basin dates from 1974, when the ninth well drilled found Albian carbonate reservoirs (Garoupa
2 OTC-28159-MS

Field) at a water depth of 120 m, whereas the first hydrocarbon discovery in the Santos Basin took place
in 1979, in the Santonian siliciclastic turbidites of the Merluza gas field. The first oil production from the
Campos Basin started on August 13th, 1977, from the Enchova Field, which produced to a semi submersible
platform moored at a water depth of 124 m. This was the beginning of a successful history that led Petrobras
to become a world leader in petroleum exploration and production in deep and ultra-deep waters. Petrobras
found almost 100 hydrocarbon accumulations in the Campos and Santos basins, between 50 and 300 km
off the Brazilian coast (under water depths from 80 to 2,400 m), which were responsible, in June 2017,
for an average production of 2.8 million boepd operated by Petrobras, and for a cumulative production of
14.1 billion boe (Fig. 2).

Figure 1—Location map for the most important oil and gas accumulations in the Campos and
Santos basins, which are indicated by their different ages and types. Petrobras has found almost
100 hydrocarbon accumulations in these two basins; 65 of them are represented in this figure.
OTC-28159-MS 3

Figure 2—Annual average daily production from all Brazilian oil and/or gas fields operated by Petrobras since
their creation in 1953. Campos and Santos basins were responsible in June 2017 for 90% of the total daily
production, and for 71% of the cumulative production. Despite the oil production in the Santos Basin started
in December 1991 (Coral Field), it was only after 2010 when its production achieved a significant amount (over
10,000 boepd). Other producing basins include mostly Espírito Santo, Recôncavo, Sergipe-Alagoas, Potiguar, and
Solimões. Some important milestones that occurred during this 64 year-long history are highlighted at the bottom.

This paper summarizes the evolution of the activities of reservoir characterization, modeling and
management developed by Petrobras during the last 40 years in the Campos Basin, and for the last 25 years
in the Santos Basins; it also summarizes the technological challenges involved in the development of the
giant, ultra-deep water pre-salt fields from Santos Basin discovered since 2006.

Major Reservoir Types

Campos and Santos basins are two of the seventeen eastern Brazilian marginal basins. They produce from
many different types of reservoirs (Bruhn, 1998; Bruhn et al., 2003; Spadini et al., 1988; Corrêa, 2016;
Faria, 2017), which include "(1) Neocomian fractured basalts, and Barremian coquinas from the Continental
Rift Megasequence, (2) Aptian microbialites, and associated travertines, calcarenites and calcirudites from
the Transitional (Sag) Lacustrine, Evaporitic Megasequence, (3) Early to Middle Albian calcarenites and
calcirudites from the Shallow Carbonate Platform Megasequence, (4) Late Albian to Middle Eocene
siliciclastic turbidites from the Marine Regressive Megasequence, and (5) siliciclastic turbidites from the
Middle Eocene to Early Miocene Marine Regressive Megasequence" (Figs. 1 and 3). Table 1 summarizes the
main characteristics of these reservoirs, including stratigraphic setting, age, sedimentary facies, structural
and/or depositional setting, geometry, petrophysical properties, oil density, and maximum initial production
rates.

Evolution of Reservoir Seismic Characterization and Monitoring

The historical evolution of the reservoir seismic characterization and monitoring in the Campos and Santos
basins is summarized below together with the identification of significant technological milestones in each
of the respective seismic activity areas along the eastern Brazilian margin. A greater emphasis is focused
on the results of the last 30 years when Petrobras made the decision to invest in high-density seismic
data (>1,000,000 traces/km2) to be used in (1) seismic characterization, (2) 4D seismic and monitoring
of turbidite reservoirs, and (3) azimuthal and multicomponent seismic technology to improve the seismic
4 OTC-28159-MS

imaging of complex geology The Brazilian Pre-Salt reservoirs have very specific geological and geophysical
characteristics (Fig. 3). In view of this, seismic technologies encompassing the three general seismic
knowledge areas, namely acquisition, processing and interpretation, had to be rapidly developed to cope
with the challenges posed by the large hydrocarbon accumulations discovered in the Pre-Salt Province in
the Santos Basin.
The Brazilian coast, with its 20 sedimentary basins spreading over approximately 4,000,000 km2, has
been targeted with marine seismic acquisition since de middle 1960's. During this decade, pioneer marine
seismic acquisitions took place mostly in very shallow waters (<100 m) using a single streamer less
than 1,000 m long, and analog recording techniques; therefore, the resulting seismic imaging was rather
rudimentary and limited to very shallow geological prospects.
To describe the evolution of seismic technologies implemented in offshore Brazil, particularly in the
Campos and Santos basins, we recognize six major phases (adapted from Johann et al., 2011; Fig. 4):
▪ Phase 1 – 2D seismic in shallow water with single digital streamer less than 1,000 m long (e.g.
Brazilian coast surveys during the 1960's and 1970's).
▪ Phase 2 – 3D seismic in shallow water with single digital streamer (e.g., pioneer project at Cherne
Field, 1978).
▪ Phase 3 – 3D seismic in deep water with multi-streamer (e.g. pioneer project at Campos South area,
1989).
▪ Phase 4 - HD3D seismic at the Campos basin (e.g., Barracuda, and Caratinga fields, 1999).
▪ Phase 5 – 4D seismic in the deep waters (e.g., Marlim Complex, 2004).
▪ Phase 6 – 3D and 4D, azimuthal and multicomponent seismic (OBC, PRM and NODES) in the
Campos and Santos basins (e.g., Jubarte PRM, 2012; Lula 4D NODES, 2015-2017).

Phase 1 – 2D Seismic in Shallow Waters, and the Discovery of Guaricema (1968) and Garoupa
(1974) Fields
Marine seismic acquisition with towed streamer technology (plastic cylindrical outer skin filled with seismic
pressure sensors) started to be used in the petroleum industry in 1947. In Brazil, during the 1950's, marine
seismic 2D technology was characterized by analog records. The first offshore well drilled in Brazil (1-
ESS-1, Espírito Santo Basin, 1967) was support by analog 2D seismic data. This well discovered the first salt
dome in offshore Brazil, Espírito Santo Basin. In 1967, Petrobras made the strategic decision of acquiring
an integrated 2D seismic survey covering the entire Brazilian margin, which represented a major enterprise
due to the size of the area involved. This first survey should be considered as the begining phase of the
application of marine seismic technology in the Brazilian offshore sedimentary basins (Fig. 5).
These surveys were then performed with the use of multiple coverage reflection 2D seismic technology
and digital recording techniques. The discovery of the first oil field off the Brazilian coast, Guaricema
Field (1968) in the Sergipe- Alagoas Basin, represented a milestone of the use of seismic technology and,
even though the data quality, resolution and imaging were still rather rudimentary comparing to the current
standards, it served to inspire and intensify the use of seismic surveys off the Brazilian coast. The first oil
discovery in the Campos basin (Garoupa Fields, 1974; Fig. 1) represented the beginning of a long journey
of seismic technology application in exploration, reservoir characterization and monitoring in the Campos
Basin. In 1979, the discovery of Merluza oilfield also was support by 2D seismic. The geophysical projects
of the 1960's and 1970's were mainly 2D seismic surveys which recorded widely separated lines (10 km)
aiming to identify exploratory prospects. These surveys already made use of digital technology, and used
an average of 24 seismic recording channels with seismic cable lengths of 1,600 m. This made possible to
better image reservoirs deeper than 1,000 m, and can be considered as a second phase in the evolution of
the use of seismic in offshore Brazil.
OTC-28159-MS 5

During the 1970's, three seismic vessels were in operation in offshore Brazil, a country's record. The
efforts were not limited to acquisition activities only; seismic processing and interpretation advanced at the
same time, allowing the discovery of Garoupa Field in 1974, the first oil discovery in the Campos Basin.
In 1968, Petrobras inaugurated its first Seismic Data Digital Processing Center, which can be considered
the beginning of these activities in Brazil. The first digital mainframe was an IBM 360/44 (Fig. 6A). This
computer was operating in Brazil after only four years of activity in the USA, and it was considered the
largest computer system in Latin America at that time, despite having a memory of only 256 kilobytes. The
development of seismic processing capacity in Brazil was of utmost importance for the enhancement of the
2D seismic imaging of the time and for the construction of structural and amplitude maps, which would
lead to the initial drillings in the Campos Basin, and the pioneer discovery of the Garoupa Field (1974).

Phase 2 – 3D Seismic applied to Reservoir Characterization (since 1978)

The first marine 3D seismic project occurred in 1978, when the Cherne Field (Campos Basin) was covered
by a singled streamer towed by a GSI vessel. Johann et al. (2011) described that "during the 1980's, however,
the largest deep water oil fields in Campos Basin were still discovered with the use of 2D seismic as, for
instance, the Marlim Complex (1985-1987), the Albacora complex (1984-1986) and the Barracuda Field
(1989)". They also cited that "during the 1980's and 1990's, 3D marine seismic was still predominantly used
for the reservoir characterization of the reservoirs already discovered, due to the cost and time spended to
acquired a survey (single streamer technology). During this period a significant evolution in marine seismic
technology took place, especially with the use of simultaneous multi-cables and longer seismic cables".

Figure 3—Generalized geological section for the eastern Brazilian marginal basins. This section was built with portions of
different basins, in order to summarize the geology and show all the different types of oil and/or gas reservoirs from the
eastern Brazilian margin. The Continental Pre-Rift Megasequence and the Continental Rift Megasequence are based on
the Recôncavo Basin (western part of the section), and the Continental Rift Megasequence is based on the Campos and
Santos basins (eastern part of the section). The Transitional (Sag) Lacustrine, Evaporitic Megasequence is based on the
Sergipe-Alagoas Basin (western part of the section), and on the Campos and Santos basins (eastern part of the section). The
Shallow Marine, Carbonate Platform Megasequence, the Marine Transgressive Megasequence, and the Marine Regressive
Megasequence are mostly based on the Campos Basin. The different types of Brazilian lacustrine and marine turbidite
reservoirs are highlighted in yellow (Bruhn, 1998). Alluvial fan, fluvial, eolian, and deltaic reservoirs are highlighted in orange.
6 OTC-28159-MS

Table 1—Main characteristics of the reservoirs from Campos and Santos basins, including stratigraphic setting,
age, main sedimentary facies, structural and/or depositional setting, geometry, petrophysical properties,
oil density, and maximum initial production rates. Core samples from the main reservoirs: (A) Oligocene-
Miocene (Post-Salt), fine/medium grained, sand-rich turbidites (Campos Basin), (B) Albian (Post-Salt), oolitic/
oncolitic calcarenite (Campos Basin), (C) Aptian (PreSalt), microbialite (stromatolite facies) (Santos Basin), (D)
Barremian (Pre-Salt) coquina (Santos Basin), and (E) Neocomian (Pre-Salt) fractured basalt (Campos Basin).

Johann et al. (2011) reported that "the first reservoir characterization based on 3D seismic took place
in the Namorado and Garoupa fields in 1976. After that, in the 1980's, other Campos Basin oilfields were
discovered and have their reservoirs characterized with seismic amplitude and impedances maps. The first
oil bright spot was identified in the Campos Basin by Rosa et al. in 1985".
OTC-28159-MS 7

Figure 4—Evolution of the seismic technology applied in the Brazilian marginal basins, and
its correlation to oilfield discoveries, reservoir characterization and monitoring, as also to
the oil equivalent cumulative production and proven reserves at the end of each decade.

Figure 5—Marine seismic vessel technological evolution: (A) sigle digital streamer (1960's), (B) multi-streamer vessel
(1990's and 2000's), and (C) modern seismic vessel with space up to 24 streamer of 12 kilometer streamers (2010's).

Phase 3 – 3D Seismic in Deep Waters using Multi-Long Streamer Technology (since 1989)
Johann et al. (2011) reported that "the first deep water exploratory 3D seismic survey (2,000 km2) took place
in Campos Basin in 1989. This project was named 3D Campos South, and represents the beginning of the
Phase 3 of the evolution of marine seismic technology applied in the Brazilian margin. During the 1990's,
the evolution of marine navigation technology and the advent of the use of GPS positioning systems allowed
for the more precise positioning of seismic lines and new prospect exploratory wells. During the 1980's, the
processing activity underwent significant improvements with the introduction of 3D processing routines,
the advance of deconvolution algorithms, multiple suppression and time migration. During the 1990's and
the 2000's, the evolution of 3D multiple suppression algorithms, and the depth migration improvements
have been the innovation highlights in the seismic data processing".
8 OTC-28159-MS

Figure 6—Seismic processing technological evolution: (A) first digital processing center with a
pioneer IBM mainframe 3060/44 (1968); (B) first supercomputer at Petrobras IBM 3090 2VF (1979),
and (C) Petrobras parallel seimic processing with more than 550 servidors GPUs and CPUs (2000's).

Johann et al. (2011) also reported that:

▪ "Petrobras had invested in the development of its in-house processing capacity over 40 years,
which allowed it to correctly evaluate the results obtained, as also to critically assess the
outsourced processing products and innovations offered by third parties. The service companies, after
successfully tow five full-length streamers and six full-length streamers in 1993, in the following
year started to offer six streamer surveys with full-length streamers.
▪ In 1994, the 3D Campos South seismic data supported the discovery of the first offshore oil field in
Brazil with the use of 3D seismic: Caratinga Field, in Campos Basin. This discovery also comprised
a milestone in the advancement of the use of seismic technology in the imaging of prospects in the
Brazilian margin (Fig. 7).
▪ In 1995, the seismic reservoir characterization activity was integrated to the disciplines of production
(reservoir) geology and reservoir engineering. Since then, a team of geophysicists has been
specifically trained for this activity focused on the seismic reservoir characterization in an integrated
view with geology and reservoir engineering.
▪ The enacting of the new Brazilian Petroleum Law (1997) stimulated the seismic service companies
to concentrate their efforts off the Brazilian coast. At one time, more than 20 marine seismic crews
were simultaneously shooting speculative surveys in the area, both 2D and 3D seismic, what can
be considered the second historical boom in the marine seismic acquisition in Brazil. The sizeable
amount of 3D seismic data made available by these surveys transformed this technology in a routinely
used tool also for the exploratory activities".

Figure 7—Examples of the first results of 3D seismic technology in Brazil (Johann et al., 2011). (A) Caratinga turbidite
oilfield was the first to be discovered in the Campos Basin with the use of 3D seismic (1994). (B) Acoustic impedance
seismic map of Caratinga reservoirs revealing turbidite fan facies. (C) High-density acoustic impedance seismic map
of the same reservoirs allowing the identification of different turbidite facies of channel complexes (Johann, 1999).
OTC-28159-MS 9

Phase 4 - HD3D Seismic in Deep Waters (since 1999)

Since 1996, the service companies were able to deploy 12 streamers in full-fold and high definition surveys.
In Brazil, the first 3D high-density (HD3D, >1,000,000 traces/km2) marine seismic was acquired in 1999,
aiming reservoir characterization (BCAMSUL Project), with the use of 4,000 m-long streamers spaced by
50 m. This project inaugurated the Phase 4 of the evolution of marine seismic technology applied in the
Brazilian margin, and it was a world pioneer HD3D seismic project. The acquisition of high-density seismic
surveys became a Petrobras standard for reservoir characterization; e.g. after their discovery, all pre-salt
oilfields from Santos Basin are covered by high-density surveys.

Phase 5 – 4D Seismic (since 2004)

During the 2000's, in parallel with exploratory 3D seismic projects and reservoir characterization-oriented,
high-density projects, 4D seismic projects started to be developed in Brazil, which characterized the Phase
5 of the evolution of marine seismic technology applied in the Brazilian margin. An initial project portfolio
with over 17,000 km2 was launched in 2004. Also in 2004, the marine seismic technology experienced a
significant improvement with the introduction of controlled seismic sources and cables in addition to the
single receiver acquisition. Since the 2005 first 4D seismic survey at the Marlim Complex (Johann et. al.,
2006; Oliveira, 2008), Petrobras already acquired more than 30,0 km2 of dedicated 4D seismic projects,
probably one of the biggest portfolio of 4D seismic projects in the industry. 4D seismic interpretation is
routinely integrated to geocellular and fluid flow models (Fig. 8), and nowadays is in progress the integration
of 4D seismic with geomechanical modeling.

Figure 8—Marlim oilfield seismic interpretation (Johann et al., 2011): (A) 3D seismic
characterization of the Marlim reservoir top structure, and (B) 4D seismic interpretation of areas
of the Marlim reservoir where oil has been replaced by injection water (light blue volumes).

Phase 6 – 3D and 4D Azimuthal and Multicomponent Seismic (since 2012)

At the end of the 2000's, 1,500 km2 of multicomponent OBC seismic data were acquired in Campos Basin. In
2012, it was implemented the first permanent seismic monitoring system (PRM) in the ultra-deep waters of
Campos Basin, in the Jubarte Field (Fig. 9). This worldwide pioneer project in ultra-deep waters comprises
an optical-sensor-equipped bottom cable system that is linked to a production platform (FPSO). The Jubarte
PRM (Permanent Reservoir Monitoring) was designed for a pos-salt turbidite reservoir wich overlies a pre-
salt reservoir discovered at the same area. Jubarte PRM started the first acquisition survey (base survey) in
December 2012, and by the end of January 2013, the first survey was completed. Three seismic acquisitions
were acquired within intervals of one year until 2015.
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Figure 9—Jubarte Field Permanent Reservoir Monitoring System. (A) Submarine layout with seismic optical
cables 300 m- apart, seismic station 50 m and shot lines separated by 25 m (super high-density data). (B)
4D seismic imaging after applied multiple reflexion energy technology to expand the interpretation area.

In most exploratory prospects and in the production fields of the Brazilian margin the reservoirs present
a well-defined structural and stratigraphic control, a complex geometry, and variations, both in sedimentary
facies and petrophysical properties (Fig. 3 and Table 1). The seismic characterization of these reservoirs
and their fluids represents, by no means, an easy task. It certainly is a major challenge to characterize
the variations in the dynamic properties of the reservoirs (e.g. variations in fluid saturation, pressure,
temperature, and rock-fluid interaction) concurrent with the oil production, based on seismic images. With
this task in mind, it becomes evident that the seismic technology, specially the seismic imaging technology,
has a great strategic importance for the E&P activities in Brazil. The coupling of seismic imaging technology
with borehole geophysics, together with the rock physics understanding of the rock-fluid system comprise
relevant information for use by geoscientists and reservoir engineers, from the discovery to the production
development phase, through the the routine production stage, i.e. during the entire economic life of the
Brazilian oilfields.
In spite of all the advances made between the 1960's and the 1990's in the seismic imaging of Campos
Basin, the same reality was not shared by Santos Basin, particularly because the data available for the
exploration activities in this basin was only 2D seismic, and its geology is very complex, including the
presence of very thick salt layers. The 2D based seismic imaging of Santos Basin particularly that covering
the pre-salt rift and sag reservoirs, was rather deficient as compared to the excellent seismic data sets
available, at the same time, for Campos Basin (Fig. 10).

Figure 10—Evolution in acquisition and processing of the seismic data available for the
interpretation of the pre-salt reservoirs from Santos Basin (1990's to 2005). (A) poor-quality
2D seismic section. (B) 2D seismic section with new seismic processing methodology. (C) 3D
acquisition with 6 km-long cables and 150 m interval (Veritas, 2001), processed by Petrobras (2005).
OTC-28159-MS 11

Santos Basin main technological challenges and opportunities for reservoir geophysical characterization
and monitoring of pre-salt reservoirs are:
▪ Complex 3D seismic velocity fields in a geological scenario including Albian carbonates overlying
salt layers, salt top layers with a strong variation in relief and stratified salt layers immediately
juxtaposed to homogeneous halite diapirs overlying Aptian microbiolites (Fig. 3), which cause
waveform disturbance.
▪ Interbedded seismic multiples overlapping the microbialite-rich sag reservoirs. Stratified salt layers
juxtaposed to homogeneous halite overlay microbialite reservoirs generated seismic multiples.
▪ The variation in geological facies and diagenesis in carbonates is more complex than in siliciclastic
reservoirs.
▪ Low seismic resolution. High velocity fields (> 5,000 m/s) and low frequency (< 30 Hz dominant) at
reservoirs buried at great depths (> 5,000 m) imply seismic-mapped sedimentary successions thicker
than 50 m.
▪ Acoustic impedance ambiguity. Seismic acoustic impedance shows similar values for some different
petrophysical facies.
▪ Elastic inversion instable results. Pre-condition of seismic data and large offsets in acquisition
geometry are required to improve elastic impedance reliability.
▪ 4D seismic signal for monitoring the behavior of fluid motion and pressure variation in the pre-salt
carbonate reservoirs.
Johann et al. (2011) described that "from the 2000's several re-processing efforts were taken to improve
the 2D seismic data sets, in order to get a better visualization of exploratory leads in the post- and pre-
salt reservoirs of the Santos Basin. These very important improvements have motivated the implementation
of a large 3D seismic campaign for exploratory purpouses. Thus, in 2001, the first phase of a 3D seismic
acquisition campaign aimed at the imaging of the new pre-salt province was performed. This large scale
(>20,000 km2) survey was parameterized for the post-salt section and still had exploratory objectives.
These seismic data, time and depth-migrated, are serving now as the basis for the exploration and initial
development of the pre-salt fields from Santos Basin. In 2011, Petrobras and its partners in the Pre-Salt
Province have started a second phase of seismic acquisition efforts, which comprised high-density seismic
imaging projects (>1,000,000 traces/km2), focused on the recently discovered oilfields. The processing and
interpretation results of these data show the striking importance of high-density data for the characterization
of the pre-salt reservoirs".
Figure 11 shows an example of improvement of the seismic data applying anisotropic seismic migration
algorithms, TTI type (Tilted Transversely Isotropic), where the velocity model construction was performed
with the use of borehole geophysical data information in addition to the key horizons of the processed area.
In addition, it will be important to develop algorithms for the suppression of internal multiples in layers
adjacent to the flank of the salt layers (Figure 12).
12 OTC-28159-MS

Figure 11—Anisotropic velocity model: before (A) and after (B) the
integration of an anhydrite layer (arrow) from VSP interpretation.

Figure 12—(A) Seismic section with stratified salt layers juxtaposed to homogeneous halite diapirs originating interbedded
seismic multiples affecting reservoir successions (red elipses). The attenuating of these multiples is an important
challenge for the pre-salt reservoir imaging. (B) Interbeded seismic multiples footprints at a horizon slice (arrow).

From 2008 to 2012, Petrobras acquired more than 13,000 km2 of high-density 3D seismic oriented to
reservoir characterization, covering the most important oilfields already discovered. This project set some
world records in marine seismic acquisition: (1) the largest HD4D streamer spread ever towed, 113.4 km;
(2) the largest HD4D program ever acquired (13,000 km2) and (3) the longest deployed time of an HD4D
spread (9.5 months).
In 2011, Petrobras acquired two important full azimuth projects, one in Santos Basin with circular
technology and another one with orthogonal OBC technology (Fig. 13). From 2011 to 2013, Petrobras and
partners acquire 3D seismic high-density to cover pre-salt reservoirs over 10,600 km2. In 2011, six VSP
projects were acquired, two walkaway and walkaround, and four 3D VSP at Santos Basin pre-salt oilfields.
The first seismic survey with the technology of receiving stations on the ocean floor (NODES) in ultra-
deep waters was carried out by Petrobras in 2015 (Fig. 14), to support a pilot project aiming the 4D seismic
monitoring of alternating gas and water injection (WAG) in pre-salt carbonate reservoirs from Santos Basin.
This project used 954 NODES stations, spaced by 375 m, along a receiver area with 111 km2, guaranteeing
a migration band of 2,500 m. A polygon of shots of approximately 344 km2, with edges 4,000 m apart,
spaced every 50 m, comprised about 138,000 shots in the survey. In 2017, a monitor survey will be carried
out in the same area for reservoir surveillance of the WAG project.
For more than 40 years, more than 1,500,000 km of 2D seismic lines and 1,000,000 km2 of 3D seismic
surveys have been shot in the Brazilian offshore basins. During this time, Petrobras has systematically
followed a strategy of implementing the several technological advances to evaluate the impact of these
innovative technologies on the reservoir seismic imaging. Petrobras has recently contracted other two
NODES surveys of 730 km2 and 1,620 km2, respectively, to cover other giant pre-salt oilfields from
OTC-28159-MS 13

Santos Basin. These new data will allow the seismic processing and interpretation of full azimuth and
multicomponent data to characterize the Brazilian pre-salt reservoirs (Johann and Monteiro, 2016).

Figure 13—Post-plot lines (circular lines) of the full-azimuth WesternGeco seismic

acquisition project in the Santos Basin and survey coverage zones (Cooke et al., 2012).

Figure 14—(A) Survey design of a NODES pilot project in the Santos Basin. (B) The 954 seismic
receiver stations (NODES) were deployed on the sea bottom at a water depth of more than 2,000 m.

Evolution of Reservoir 3D Geological Modeling

Reservoir 3D geological modeling (geocellular modeling) has evolved during the last decades, allowing a
better representation of the geometry, internal heterogeneities (including stratigraphic and structural flow
barriers), and the 3D distribution of sedimentary facies and petrophysical properties of the reservoirs from
Campos and Santos basins. This evolution also influenced the fluid flow modeling, and the better estimation
of production curves.
The first use of 3D geological modeling in Petrobras coincided with the development of computation
techniques applied to mining activities, particularly in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The building of
the first grids was stimulated by the use of 3D seismic, which allowed the introduction of stratigraphic
horizons and faults into 3D geological models. The spatial distribution of petrophysical properties started
to be controlled by geostatistical algorithms. The shallow water fields from Campos Basin were the first to
to have 3D geological models, immediately succeeded by the deep water fields from the same basin.
During the early 2000's the geostatistical techniques gradually became more sophisticated, allowing a
better representation of the spatial distribution of sedimentary facies, petrophysical properties and fluid
14 OTC-28159-MS

saturation. This improvement associated to the availabity of high-resolution 3D seismic (HD3D) allowed a
much better control for the geosteering of horizontal wells drilled into deep water turbidite reservoirs, which
thickness (< 10 m) is smaller than their seismic vertical resolution. During the 2000's it took place a great
evolution in the algorithms used in 3D geological model, allowing the representation of faults and fractures
in much more detail. Petrobras commited a great amount of resources to the training of its production
geologists in 3D geological modeling; today, the reservoirs that contain 90% of the Petrobras operated
STOIIP have an updated 3D geological model ready to be exported to a fluid flow simulator.
At about the same time of the discovery of the very large pre-salt reservoirs from Santos Basin (Fig.
2), very importantdevelopments have been incorporated in the 3D geological modeling activities (Fig. 15),
including mainly:
▪ Incorporation of uncertainty analysis in the workflow of 3D geological modeling, which allows the
generation of different scenarios related to existence of variations in the seismic, geological, and
petrophysical properties of the modelled reservoir (Fig. 15).
▪ Development of conceptual geological models using high-resolution stratigraphic techniques became
an important tool to guide the definition of production zones. Genetic surfaces, such as correlative
conformities, basal surface of forced regressions, maximum flooding surfaces, and others types of
genetic surfaces replaced lithoestratigraphic surfaces. Conceptual geological models with a strong
high-resolution stratigraphic background are used as constraints to guide the 3D geological modeling
of the majority of the deep- and ultra-deep water, post- and pre-salt reservoirs from Campos and
Santos basins (Fig. 15).
▪ Improvements in the geostatistical techniques, which incorporated multivariate analysis to model the
distribution of reservoir properties. These techniques include matrix of facies vertical proportions,
principal component analysis, and declustering methods to decrease the uncertainties related to some
wells drilled in areas with reservoirs properties much better or worse than in the majority of the
modelled oilfield. At the same time, more sophisticated well log analysis allowed a better estimation
of petrophysical properties, such as the FZI (Flow Zone Indicator) technique.
▪ Aplication of stratigraphic forward modeling techniques (e.g. Faria, 2017) focused on the reservoirs.
It allowed the building of very sophisticated 3D conceptual models incorporating cyclostratigraphic
analysis and high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, considering the basin base level variations, the
rates of creation or filling space, and the energy of the depositional environment as the main controls
on the deposition of reservoir facies (Fig. 15).
▪ Incorporation of techniques for modelling diagenetic processes (e.g. Corrêa, 2016), including
cementation, dissolution, and their influence on the generation of the reservoir porous system,
including the representation of epigenic and hypogenic karst features (Fig. 15).
▪ Incorporation of the petrophysical properties (transmissibility) of the sealing/non-sealing faults and
fracture corridors into the 3D geological models.
▪ Incorporation of structural, and stragraphic and sedimentological features characterized by the use of
4D seismic (e.g. Oliveira, 2008), particularly in the deep water turbidite fields from Campos Basin
since 2005 (Fig. 15).
The developments listed above were incorporated in the Petrobras workflow for 3D geological model
(Fig. 15)
Petrobras built a data base containing information related to reservoir geometry, facies characterization
and spacial distribution, and petropysical properties (named SAGA), which have been described and
measured in tens of outcrops located in many different countries (Brazil, Argentina, USA, France, Australia,
South Africa, and Namibia, to name a few). These outcropping reservoirs, mostly of siliciclastic turbidites,
and lacustrine and marine carbonates, are analogues to many reservoirs from Campos and Santos basins
OTC-28159-MS 15

(e.g. Freire, 2012; Gomes, 2013; and Guimarães, 2014). Large data base systems such as SAGA have been
used to support and improve the reservoir modelling of many areas, particularly in areas at the early stages of
exploration and production development, allowing significant cost reduction in data acquisition, something
very critical in the current scenario of low oil prices faced by the oil industry.

Evolution of Development Planning and Reservoir Management

Strategy of Data Acquisition and Uncertainty Reduction.
The conditions to develop an offshore oilfield change from company to company. Decisions have been
taken by Petrobras to develop the reservoirs from Campos Basin on the basis of a minimum amount of
information, which may include well logs, well tests, rock and fluid data, 3D seismic data, and data from
analog fields. Additional information obtained from pilot or early production systems, appraisal wells,
new seismic acquisition and reprocessing, all of which integrated to detailed reservoir characterization
studies have provided important input to the conception of the definitive production systems. The Value
of Information technique has been applied on a routine basis to approve investments to gather reservoir
information. Pinto et al, (2001) described the main characteristics of the development plans of the deepwater
turbidite reservoirs in Campos Basin.
In 2006 was discovered the giant, new oil province comprising the pre-salt, Barremian coquinas and
Aptian microbialites from the ultra-deep water Santos Basin (Fig. 1). Prior to its development, Petrobras
set a group of "golden rules", including mainly:
▪ Acquisition of high definition seismic data, using parameters for detailed reservoir characterization.
▪ In each area seen as a potential location for a production system it was considered as mandatory the
(1) drilling of at least two wells, both with a complete logging suite (including image logs), extensive
coring (in one of the wells) and side wall cores, and down hole fluid sampling (including in the
water leg) at different depths; (2) the execution of drill stem test or injectivity test in both wells;
and (3) the execution of extended (six months) well testing, including whenever possible, pressure
interference tests with exploratory or appraisal wells. The dynamic characterization of the reservoirs
compensated the relatively low number of appraisal wells. Besides reservoir specific questions, the
tests also provide knowledge on multiphase flow in subsea pipelines and fluids processing, in addition
to flow assurance information.
16 OTC-28159-MS

Figure 15—Petrobras workflow for 3D geological modeling. Conceptual geological models built with support from
3D and 4D seismic, rock and petrophysical data, are used as constraints to guide the 3D geological modeling.
Different scenarios of 3D geological models are exported to fluid flow simulators, which calculate different
production curves for the modelled reservoir. The reservoir production performance, in turn, may provide important
feedback to improve the conceptual geological model and corresponding 3D geological model (feeding loop).
OTC-28159-MS 17

Moczydlower et al. (2012) present a comprehensive description of the objectives of the extended well
tests, as well the accompanying evaluations (as interference testing) performed in order to provide more
confidence in the static and dynamic reservoir models (through history matching for the pressure behavior).
In order to develop the Pre-Salt Province, some key principles for conceptual development were defined,
as follows:
▪ Phased development, aiming reservoir and production data acquisition in this new and challenging
context, as well as cash flow anticipation.
▪ Proper disposal of the CO2 to be produced with the reservoir fluids; later on the best option for CO2
disposal was identified as being its reinjection in the reservoirs, in a water alternating gas (WAG)
scheme.
▪ Standardization of well and subsea equipments.
▪ Adoption of a policy of flexibility and robustness in the production systems (as will be described).
▪ Priority to HSE mainly in well operations and fluid processing plants.
The application of the guidelines listed above made possible a robust fast track development of the
Barremian and Aptian pre-salt reservoirs from Campos and Santos basins (Figs. 1 and 2). In June 2017 the
production operated by Petrobras from pre-salt reservoirs averaged 1.6 million boepd, and the cumulative
production reached 1.7 billion boe.

Development Plans
Pinto et al. (2001) and Bruhn et al. (2003) described typical Campos Basin "deepwater projects, which due
to the intensive investments, must have high oil production and remain constant during the first years of
operation. The wells must be designed to allow high production rates (typically >10,000-20,000 bopd), with
lifetime completions to avoid costly interventions. In order to assure high productivity, pressure maintenance
must be efficient; if water injection is planned, the hydraulic connectivity between injector and producer
wells must be guaranteed by high-quality 3D seismic, well log correlation, and observed pressure profiles.
Most of the deepwater, turbidite reservoirs from the Campos Basin are characterized by solution gas drive.
Water injection has been selected as the pressure maintenance and recovery method, for its simplicity and
due to the relative permeabilities, favorable to waterflood".
The water injection rate in the Campos Basin has already exceeded 4.6 million bwpd, and the cumulative
water production reached 4.7 billion bbl in June 2017. Water management has become more challenging
over the last 40 years, as the Campos Basin reservoirs get more mature, The technology of 4D seismic has
been very useful to map water paths in turbidite reservoirs, supporting in-fill drilling (Fig. 8B).
The development of the pre-salt reservoirs from Santos Basin represents, perhaps, one of the most
challenging set of field developments in ultra-deep waters ever made. Some of the most important lessons
learned until now are listed below:
▪ High definition 3D seismic is fundamental for the definition of the field development plans. Seismic
inversion and special processing are, together with the geological knowledge, the most important
pillars to define, for each field, the optimal number of production units, and the number and location
of prodution and injection wells.
▪ A thorough geological understanding of the depositional and post-depositional (diagenetic) events is
key to track the good quality reservoir facies, and the location of the development wells.
▪ Information acquisition, before approving the location of each production system, was a critical factor
for the success of the pre-salt development.
▪ An experienced multi-disciplinary team, working together in the same physical space, allowed the
achievement of a global optimization of the process, instead of parts of it. To ask "what if" has always
been estimulate, to challenge the team to find more efficient solutions.
18 OTC-28159-MS

▪ When defining the development plan, should be considered, above all, the concepts of: (1) integrated
development; (2) robustness, which means that the project should work in any geological scenario,
considering that in the FID some uncertainties still remain, mainly related to secondary recovery; (3)
flexibility, meaning that "surprises" should be anticipated, as well as mitigation actions;
▪ Intelligent completion and the water alternating gas (WAG) method proved to be good decisions,
providing tools for the reservoir engineer to improve reservoir management and ultimate recovery;
▪ Gas injection, including the CO2 fraction, is behaving quite well, and early breakthrough has occurred
in just 2 or 3 wells. In these cases, alternating injection to water allowed to control the GOR.
▪ Cost reduction was a "must", mainly in the post-2014 low oil price scenario. The incorporation of
lessons learned, for instance, in the well construction, which corresponds to almost 50% of the whole
CAPEX of a production system, allowed the feasibility of some of the projects.
As usual in an offshore scenario, the base recovery mechanism considered was seawater flooding.
However, due to the high gas content with some amount of CO2 in the produced fluids, water-alternating-gas
(WAG) method gained priority in the pre-salt fields. Pizarro and Branco (2012) present a detailed discussion
on the technical aspects of the WAG method implementation in the pre-salt reservoirs.
Finally, it is worth to record that the NPV (net present value) of deepwater production projects is strongly
affected by the number of wells, since their cost usually represents more than 50% of the CAPEX. Therefore,
detailed studies will define the optimal distribution and number of wells; these studies shall consider not
only the economic results, but also the oil recovery factor and the risk reduction (e.g. Guedes et al., 2000).
Wells with expected oil recovery less than 10-15 million bbl are not drilled in the beginning of the projects
in deep water Campos Basin, and remain as future opportunities to increase oil production and recovery.

Fluids and Contaminants

Large volumes of heavy (13-17°API) and high viscosity (20-400 cp at reservoir conditions) oil have
been found in shallow- to ultra-deep water, post-salt reservoirs from Campos Basin, both in carbonate
and siliciclastic turbidites. The economic production from these accumulations rely on a group of new
production technologies including mainly (Pinto et al., 2003): (1) long horizontal or multilateral wells
(producing with high power ESPs, hydraulic pumps or submarine multiphase pumps) to compensate the
decrease in productivity caused by the high oil viscosity, (2) efficient heat management systems, and (3)
compact oil-water separation systems. The pre-salt, carbonate reservoirs (Campos and Santos basins), on
the other hand, present light- to medium-density oil (27-30 °API), GOR from 200 to 400 m3/m3, and variable
amount of CO2 and H2S. As mentioned before, the CO2 produced with the oil is separated and reinjected
into the reservoir.

Well Design, Drilling and Completion Issues.

Pinto et al. (2001) and Bruhn et al. (2003) reported that "the shallow water fields in the Campos Basin
were developed mainly with vertical or deviated wells. The development of the deep and ultradeep water
fields in the Campos Basin was very complex in the beginning, particularly because of the difficulties
faced to obtain an efficient sand control mechanism for wells drilled into poorly consolidated turbidite
reservoirs. The first deepwater fields to be in production (Albacora, 1987, and Marlim, 1991) were still
mostly developed with vertical and deviated wells (Fig. 16); that was because only in 1998 Petrobras was
able to complete horizontal wells with open-hole gravel pack (OHGP). The OHGP technology allowed the
next developments to be done preferentially with horizontal wells, including the development of the Marlim
Sul Field, which is characterized by thin (< 50 m) reservoir successions, distributed over a very large area
(over 500 km2)".
Bruhn et al. (2003) described that "horizontal wells brought additional information to the characterization
of the Campos Basin reservoirs, which were derived from well tests, wireline logs, core description, and
OTC-28159-MS 19

probe permeametry of cores. Horizontal variograms of reservoir properties obtained from horizontal wells
have supported the building of more detailed and sophisticated 3D geological models. The parameters used
in these models were adjusted in order to reproduce the results from horizontal well tests; this procedure
has enriched the knowledge of the internal reservoir architecture from the Campos Basin turbidite, and
carbonate reservoirs".
The development of the pre-salt, carbonate reservoirs from Santos Basin required the deployment of new
procedures and technologies, such as:
▪ Well design to resist to the collapse that could be caused when drilling through the thick salt layer
(commonly over 2.0 m thick) and during the operational life.
▪ Special rigs, usually with dual activity, for 2,500 m water depth, to reach the Pre-Salt carbonate
reservoirs at 5,500 – 7.0 m, under harsh metocean conditions.
▪ Rigs equipped with Mud Cap Drilling (MCD) and/or Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), to allow the
control of fluid loss when crossing fractured and/or karstfied reservoirs (including large caves).
▪ Well design to guarantee the deployment of production zone isolation, intelligent completion systems,
downhole chemical injection (segregated by zone), large diameter tubings and gas-lift.
▪ Casing and tubing materials resistant to variable amounts of contaminants, such as CO2 and H2S.
▪ Implementation of a statistical surveillance for each operation, well and rig. Benchmarking times
were defined for each operation and a coaching program implemented in all rigs. The improvement
in procedures, together with new technologies, especially for bits, allowed a dramatic reduction in
the well construction time, around 70% between 2010 and 2017.
The wells drilled into the thick (up to 400-500 m), pre-salt carbonate reservoirs from Santos Basin wells
are usually vertical or deviated, with selective intelligent completion, allowing maximum initial flow rates
as high as 40,000 bopd.
In summary, four major phases can be recognized during the production development of Campos and
Santos basin, which were defined mostly on the basis of the evolution of the drilling technology, on the
water depth, and on the geological characteristics of the reservoirs (Fig. 16):
▪ shallow water fields developed with a large number of closely-spaced, vertical or deviated wells, with
dry completion (e.g. Namorado, and Pampo, Campos Basin);
▪ deep water fields, still developed with a large number of wells, but now combining vertical/deviated
and horizontal wells, with subsea completions (e.g. Albacora, Marlim, and Roncador, Campos Basin);
▪ deep to ultra-deep water post-salt fields, containing light to heavy oil (13-31 °API) in siliciclastic
turbidites and carbonates, developed with a smaller number of mostly horizontal wells, with subsea
completion (e.g. Marlim Sul, and Barracuda, Campos Basin); and
▪ ultra-deep water pre-salt fields with very thick (up to 400-500 m), light oil (28-30 °API) carbonate
reservoirs, developed with largely-spaced vertical and deviated wells, with subsea completion (e.g.
Lula, and Buzios, Santos Basin).
20 OTC-28159-MS

Figure 16—Examples of development plans in terms of well type and spacing. Vertical and deviated wells
are predominant in shallow water fields (e.g. Namorado), in the thicker (>50-100 m) portions of the deep
water, post-salt turbidite reservoirs (e.g. Marlim and Roncador), as also in the ultra-deep water, thick
(>50 m, up to 400-500 m) pre-salt carbonate reservoirs (e.g. Lula). Horizontal wells are predominant in
the thinner (<50 m) portions of the deep water, post-salt turbidite reservoirs (e.g. Marlim and Roncador).
OTC-28159-MS 21

Subsea Systems and Processing Capacity of Production Units

Pinto et al. (2001) defined a simple rule of thumb defining that "the capacity of processing of the production
units in the deep waters of Campos Basin should be higher than 3% of the STOIIP per year. Deep- to ultra-
deep water reservoirs have been mostly developed with satellite wells and flexible flowlines and risers.
Due to the high productivity of the wells, there is small room for the use of subsea manifolds, which could
reduce well productivity".
Some concepts regarding subsea systems had to change to allow the development of the Pre-Salt,
carbonate reservoirs from Santos Basin, such as:
▪ Deployment of different options for the gathering systems: flexible flowlines and risers in lazy-wave;
Buoy- Supported Risers (BSRs) - with rigid risers in free catenary configuration, rigid risers in lazy
wave configuration directly connected to the FPU.
▪ Development and qualification of flexible flowline and risers, resistant to the contaminants (CO2 and
H2S).
▪ Integrated bundles to allow the control of DHSV, ICVs and downhole chemical injection.
▪ Standardization of subsea equipment, mainly X-Mas Trees.
▪ Development of the concept to allow the safe connection of WAG Injection wells, including WAG
manifolds.
The Pre-Salt Production Units have special characteristics, summarized below:
▪ The oil and gas production capacities, as well as the water and gas injection capacities, are limited
by several parameters, such as power generation, dry weight of the processing plant, complexity of
the gas processing plant, deck space, and mantainability and operational safety issues.
▪ The CO2 produced with the oil can be separated from the HC gas and reinjected into the reservoir.
▪ The H2S (where present) can be captured at the plant entrance, through chemical reaction in solid
beds.
▪ Several operational modes are available, such as full gas injection; CO2-rich stream injection and HC
gas export to shore via gas pipelines; water injection; and Water Alternating Gas (WAG) injection.
▪ Export of the HC gas with a maximum CO2 content of 3%, except in the three first production pilots,
where the CO2 content may reach 5%, and is lowered to 3% through the blending with gas (without
CO2) from other fields.

Reservoir Simulation
Pinto et al. (2001) and Bruhn et al. (2003) described some of the most important aspects that must be
considered in the reservoir simulation of the Campos Basin post-salt reservoirs: "(1) maximization of oil
production or discounted cumulative production from satellite and platform wells within a framework of
various fixed capacity platforms; (2) dynamic calculation of well production and injection potentials to
allow maximized oil production; (3) pressure maintenance at specific pressure levels in different areas of
the fields; (4) individual management of multiple reservoirs with pressure maintenance by water injection
over different platforms; (5) optimization of gas-lift with a limited gas supply; (6) scheduling drilling and
completion within a realistic rig availability scenario; (7) consideration of platform operational factors for
production and injection to reduce average rates without interfering with well potential calculations; and (8)
multiphase flow calculations for horizontal and multi-lateral wells or wells connected to subsea manifolds".
Special simulator features are necessary to model the pre-salt, carbonate reservoirs, such as (1)
compositional modelling; (2) fluid compositional grading both vertically and laterally; (3) dual porosity and
dual permeability; and (4) WAG modelling, considering hysteresis in the relative permeability, rock-fluid
interaction, reservoir optimization capabilities, among others. The largest fields in the pre-salt are modelled
with more than 50 million grid blocks, which brings additional necessities regarding numerical processing.
22 OTC-28159-MS

Reservoir simulation coupled to lift, flow assurance and processing plant characteristics allowed
evaluation of different drainage and recovery processes. The importance of the already mentioned dynamic
appraisal was essential for history matching, not only reservoir behaviour but also multiphase correlations,
flow assurance and possible well damage mechanisms, as well as clues on the oil, gas and water processing
facilities. Extensive laboratory data on rock, fluid (PVT) and rock fluid properties complemented the studies.

Reservoir Management
Reservoir management in the deep- and ultra-deep waters of Campos Basin is much more complex than
in the shallow waters of the same basin. Pinto et al. (2001) and Bruhn et al. (2003) reported that "pilot
production projects and/or early production systems were implemented in the Campos Basin oilfields for
investigation of reservoir performance, before the permanent production systems were installed. These
pilot projects aimed to (a) verify the STOIIP through material balance calculation, (b) obtain a better
understanding of the reservoir compartments and/or internal heterogeneities, and (c) assure the oil flow in
long pipelines, including the flow of oil as heavy as 13 °API. The results from the pilot production projects
were essential to the design of the definitive production units".
Pinto et al. (2001) and Bruhn et al. (2003) also reported that "most of the deepwater wells are connected
individually to the production units, because of their high productivity (typically > 10,000-20,000 bopd)
and to make the reservoir management easier. Subsea manifolds were employed only where there was a
restriction to the total number of risers. Despite the low oil gravity found in most the Campos Basin deep
water fields, the gas lift method has been applied because of its simplicity and reliability in the subsea
completion scenario, and the relatively high GOR (e.g. 80 m3/m3 in the Marlim Field)".
4D seismic became an important and widespread technology to support the reservoir management
activities in the deep water turbidite fields from Campos Basin since 2005 (Fig.8).
Similar approaches for reservoir management have been applied in the pre-salt, carbonate reservoirs
from ultra-deep water Santos Basin. The peculiarities of this province, such as higher gas production, CO2
content, gas injection were duely considered in the production systems as already cited above.

Integration of Disciplines (Geophysics, Geology and Reservoir Engineering)

The discovery, appraisal and production development project of an offshore field resembles a puzzle that is
gradually assembled. Each discipline brings a piece that, if properly juxtaposed with those provided by the
other disciplines, composes a framework that can lead to a successful project. The greater the integration
between the areas, the faster and with better results is the collective construction. The current workflow,
based on sophisticated reservoir models, imposes a permanent integration between the disciplines in the
project and production management areas. This process of team integration has been evolving since the
early days of the Campos Basin, reaching an even higher level in the challenging Santos Basin presalt
projects (nowadays also including professionals from other areas, suchs as the engineers responsible for
drilling wells, and designing subsea equipments and process plants). Without this integration approach, the
current results could not have been achieved. Nowadays, the scenario of low oil prices creates even more
complex challenges that may be addressed on the basis of lessons learned, technology upgrading, and team
integration.

Conclusions
Almost 100 oil and gas accumulations have been found in the Campos and Santos basins under water
depths from 80 to 2,400 m, which produce from very different types of reservoirs, including mostly pre-
salt coquinas and microbialites, and post-salt calcarenites, and siliciclastic turbidites. These different types
of reservoirs, containing also different types of hydrocarbons and contaminants provided many challenges
for their production development, related to distinct tools and workflows for reservoir (static/dynamic)
OTC-28159-MS 23

characterization and management, seismic reservoir monitoring, recovery methods (water injection, WAG,
etc.), well spacing, well types and geometries, subsea systems, and processing capacity of production units.
The Campos and Santos basins were responsible in June 2017 for a daily production of 2.8 million boepd,
and for a cumulative production of 14.1 billion boe. The results obtained with the application of innovative
technologies and the lessons learned by Petrobras with the characterization, modeling, and management of
the reservoirs from these basins can be applied to guide the field development design and production from
most offshore basins in the world, particularly in deep and ultra-deep waters.
Currently Petrobras has a large project portfolio, from shallow- to ultra-deep waters, light to heavy oil,
post-salt fields, under rejuvenation processes, to ultra-deep water, light oil, pre-salt green fields. The large
Petrobras expertise on reservoir characterization, modeling, and management have allowed it to drill highly
productive vertical wells (up to 40,000 boepd each), which contribute to a daily production of 1.6 million
boepd, and were responsible for a cumulative production of more than 1.7 billion boe (June 2017) from pre-
salt carbonates in only eleven years since their discovery.

Acknowledgements
We thank Petrobras for permission to publish this paper.

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