Petrobras, Brazil's state energy giant, has registered its third oil discovery in the ultra-deep waters off the coast of Amapá state. This discovery was made in block FZA-M-59 at a water depth of 2,886 meters, contributing to the expansion of Brazil's hydrocarbon resources in the equatorial margin.
Details of the New Discovery
This new discovery was confirmed following ongoing assessments of other areas of interest, which were announced in August and October 2026. Petrobras has emphasized that this discovery represents the company's long-term strategy to renew oil and gas reserves through exploration of new frontiers.
Next Steps in Operations
After its permit application was rejected in May 2023, Petrobras successfully obtained a permit in August 2025 for drilling the Morpho well in block FZA-M-59, in collaboration with the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). The Morpho well is located in the Foz do Amazonas basin and is about 175 kilometers from the coast of Amapá.
According to Petrobras, drilling operations and geological data collection for the third oil discovery have been completed, and the only remaining step is the completion of the well operations. After that, the drilling rig Foresea ODN II (NS-42), built in 2012, will be transferred to the Potiguar basin to carry out its next mission at the Mãe de Ouro site off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.
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