TotalEnergies has commenced oil production from the third development phase of the Mero field, located 180 kilometers off Rio de Janeiro in Brazil’s pre-salt Santos Basin.
The “Mero-3” project, launched in August 2020, includes 15 wells connected to the Marechal Duque de Caxias FPSO, with a capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). This phase is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reinjecting associated gas and eliminating routine flaring. The FPSO will also connect to the HISEP® pilot project, which separates oil from CO2-rich gas at the ocean floor.
With Mero-3’s start, the Mero field’s production capacity will rise to 590,000 barrels per day (bpd). An additional phase, “Mero-4,” is under construction and set to begin in 2025, adding another 180,000 bpd. TotalEnergies expects its share to exceed 100,000 bpd at full capacity.
“The start-up of Mero-3, less than a year after Mero-2, is a significant milestone for TotalEnergies in Brazil,” said Nicolas Terraz, President of Exploration & Production. “The Mero field delivers low-cost, low-emission oil, aligning with our strategy to grow production in Brazil.”
Mero is operated by Petrobras (38.6%) in partnership with TotalEnergies (19.3%), Shell Brasil (19.3%), CNPC (9.65%), CNOOC (9.65%), and Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA) (3.5%), representing the government in the non-contracted area.
Story via WorldOil.com