Brazilian offshore oil exploration areas: an overview of hydrocarbon pollution

Daniel Constantino Zacharias,Adalgiza Fornaro

doi:10.4136/ambi-agua.2569

Daniel Constantino Zacharias, Adalgiza Fornaro

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.2569

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Abstract

The basins of Campos and Santos, the most important offshore oil reserves in Brazil, hold potential for being the largest offshore oil exploration fields in the next decades, mainly due to the oil located in the pre-salt layer. This region presents real conditions for the occurrence of intense atmospheric events added to the high velocity of the meanders of the Brazilian current. However, the increasing risk of accidents and damage in the region has been the subject of concern and discussion. The risks in the basins of Campos (2011) and Santos (2012) may not exhibit the the same potential for disastrous events as do those in the oil fields of Alaska and of the Gulf of Mexico, but accidents in these areas are not unlikely, as already evidenced by previous accidents under similar operating conditions (e.g. Chevron Platform accident in Campos Basin, RJ, Brazil, 2011). This paper highlights discussion of the multidisciplinary and substantial environmental features in oil exploration fields along the Brazilian coast based on Semi-Systematic Review methodology. The aspects evaluated cover not only geological traits, oceanic and meteorological circulation, but also current oil production, the most significant oil spill accidents recorded up to 2019 and the discussion about some current levels of seawater contamination.

Highlights

Brazil holds the 15th largest oil reserve worldwide and the 2nd in Latin America with 12.2 billion barrels in offshore fields and 0.6 billion barrels in onshore fields
Geological Aspects of Southeast Coast of Brazil The Southeast coast of Brazil comprises the states of Espírito Santo (ES), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), São Paulo (SP), Paraná (PR), Santa Catarina (SC) and Rio Grande do Sul (RS), as well as the sedimentary basins of Espírito Santo, Campos, Santos and Pelotas, where the main offshore oil fields and pre-salt reserves are located (Figure 1)
The Brazilian offshore oil production follows the worldwide trend of increasing production and reducing accidents, but despite the significant accident reduction rates, events like those of Deepwater Horizon, show environmental risks of ultra-deep oil exploration

Summary

Introduction

Brazil holds the 15th largest oil reserve worldwide and the 2nd in Latin America with 12.2 billion barrels in offshore fields and 0.6 billion barrels in onshore fields. The Campos and Santos oceanic sedimentary basins hold 94% of all Brazilian oil (ANP, 2018). Santos Basin, the largest sedimentary offshore basin in Brazil, spans from Cabo Frio city (Rio de Janeiro state - RJ) to Florianópolis city (Santa Catarina state - SC), covering an area of more than 350,000 km, where the deepest oil platforms are installed on the Brazilian coast (Petrobras, 2018). Most wells are located between the parallels 21oS and 23oS, covering an area of approximately 100,000 km. The basin carries out intense oil-related activities, such as drilling, transportation and ship-to-ship transfers, which cause high risk of contamination for the ocean biome (Wagener et al, 2012)

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