The NS-42 drilling rig, chartered by Petrobras, arrived at its location in block FZA-M-59, in deep waters off Amapá, on the evening of Monday 18 August. The vessel will be used during the Pre-Operational Assessment (APO), scheduled to begin on 24 August.
The APO is the last stage of the environmental licensing process for well drilling in the offshore block FZA-M-59, located 175 km off the coast of Amapá and more than 500 km from the mouth of the Amazon River. During the exercise, Ibama will evaluate Petrobras' compliance with the actions set forth in the Wildlife Protection and Response Plans and in the Emergency Plan. Through the simulation of an accident response, the agency will assess aspects such as the efficiency of equipment, speed, compliance with wildlife response times, and communication with authorities and stakeholders.
The exercise will involve more than 400 people and will feature logistical resources such as large vessels, helicopters, and the NS-42 drilling rig itself, which will be positioned at the location where the well will be drilled. Through the APO, Petrobras will be able to demonstrate its readiness and will be authorised to receive the license to drill the well. This procedure is similar to the one carried out in 2023 offshore Rio Grande do Norte, prior to the drilling license for the Pitu Oeste and Anhangá wells.
"We will take part in this drill with the strict safety and readiness protocols that we apply in all Petrobras activities. We are bringing to Amapá the largest incident response structure ever mobilised by the company. Confirming the existence of oil in the Equatorial Margin could open an important energy frontier for the country, which will be developed in an integrated way with other energy sources and will contribute to ensuring that the energy transition process takes place in a fair, safe, and sustainable manner," said Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard.
Petrobras' activities in the Equatorial Margin, a region that comprises the coastal strip between Amapá and Rio Grande do Norte, are guided by respect for life, people, and the environment. Petrobras carries out its operations under strict social and environmental responsibility protocols and has extensive technical experience, acquired over decades of operating offshore in Brazil, with worldwide recognition in Deepwater Exploration and Production.