Ecopetrol acquires 30% stake in Gato do Mato discovery in Brazil's Santos Basin

Under this agreement, Shell will reduce its stake from 80% to 50% and continue as operator, while Total will retain the remaining 20%. In addition to these oil companies, the Brazilian government will also participate in the Shared Production Agreement, through Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA). After discounting this share, the consortium will proportionally maintain the above percentages.

Three wells that have discovered light hydrocarbons have been drilled in these two blocks. The consortium will continue executing activities and operations in order to initiate production in coming years.

"Joining this discovery in the Brazilian Pre-Salt with world-class companies is part of our growth and internationalization strategy, focused on high potential basins such as Santos in Brazil. This acquisition balances our production portfolio by adding light hydrocarbons. In 2018 we announced the entrance into the Pre-Salt, an area with one of the greatest potential in the continent. Today we strengthen our presence by being part of a discovery that will give us production in a few years" said Felipe Bayon, president of Ecopetrol.

According to Ecopetrol's estimates, the company could incorporate some 90 million bbl of crude in contingent resources as of 2020, which will be gradually added to its balance of reserves. Ecopetrol also estimates that its share of production could total around 20 000 bpd of crude in 2025.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/22102019/ecopetrol-acquires-30-stake-in-gato-do-mato-discovery-in-brazils-santos-basin/