The new reserve is at a depth of 1,900 meters and is part of a remainder of the pre-salt area being explored in the Santos Basin by Petrobras.| Photo: Petrobras/disclosure

Petrobras announced, this Wednesday morning (17), that it identified the presence of hydrocarbons in a well being drilled in the Santos Basin, in the Southeast region of the country, with potential for oil or natural gas exploration. The new reserve is a “pre-salt remnant” with “excellent quality”, according to the company.

“The well is being drilled and the oil-bearing interval was verified through electrical profiles and fluid samples, which will later be characterized through laboratory analyses. This data will make it possible to assess the potential and direct the next exploratory activities in the area”, said the state-owned company in a statement (see full text).

As a result, the consortium formed by Petrobras and Pré-Sal Petróleo SA will continue drilling the well to the expected depth of 1,900 meters in order to characterize the conditions of the reservoirs found.

The discovery in the new hydrocarbon reserve comes at a time when the company is also studying oil exploration on the so-called “Equatorial Margin”, on the coast of the northern region of the country, close to the mouth of the Amazon River.