Oil has been a pillar of the Brazilian economy for decades. The discovery of large reserves, especially in the pre-salt layer, has placed the country among the world's leading producers. But the journey from the rock at the bottom of the sea to the... fuel The field involves a complex chain of technology, logistics, and strategic decisions. Extraction occurs both onshore and offshore, with offshore operations predominating, currently accounting for the majority of national production.
Despite being self-sufficient in volume, Brazil still faces challenges in transforming crude oil into refined products that fully meet domestic market demand. The explanation lies in the quality of the oil, the infrastructure of the refineries, and logistics costs.
How is oil extracted in Brazil?
Extraction begins long before drilling. Geologists and geophysicists conduct seismic surveys to map the subsurface and identify potential reservoirs. These surveys use sound waves that travel through the Earth's layers and return with information about the structure of the rocks.
When an area is considered promising, exploratory drilling begins. At sea, platforms drill wells that can exceed seven thousand meters in depth, including the water depth and the stretch to the reservoir. On land, the wells are shallower, but the process follows the same logic.
After confirmation of the presence of oil in commercial volume, the area enters the development phase. Production wells, pumping systems, and pipelines that carry the oil to processing units are installed. In the case of offshore oil, the oil is separated from water and gas on the platform and then transported by ships or pipelines to the coast.
The process is continuous and requires constant monitoring of reservoir pressure, well flow rate, and equipment integrity. Any failure can compromise production or create environmental risks.
What technology is used for oil extraction in Brazil?
A brazilian oil industry It is recognized for its use of advanced technology, especially in deep-water exploration. The country has developed its own solutions to operate in extreme environments, with high pressure, high temperatures, and great depths.
Among the key technologies are directional drilling systems, which allow access to reservoirs located kilometers away from the drilling point. Subsea equipment, such as wet Christmas trees, is also used to control production directly from the seabed.
FPSO-type platforms, an acronym for floating production, storage and offloading unit, are the heart of offshore production. They receive oil from wells, perform initial treatment, and store the oil until it is loaded onto shuttle tankers.
Another important advancement is the use of digital sensors and operational intelligence to monitor fields in real time. This allows for quick adjustments in production and increases the safety of operations.
In the pre-salt layer, where the oil lies beneath a thick layer of salt, specific techniques have been developed for drilling and cementing wells. The salt behaves like a plastic material, requiring more robust equipment and precise drilling methods.
How does Brazil explore for oil?
Oil exploration in Brazil is regulated by a concession and production-sharing system, coordinated by the National Petroleum Agency. Interested companies participate in auctions to obtain the right to explore specific areas.
Petrobras, the Brazilian state-owned company, remains the main operator, especially in the pre-salt fields. However, private and foreign companies also operate in various basins, both onshore and offshore.
The exploration model involves significant investments, which can take years to generate a return. From the seismic study phase to the start of production, the average timeframe can exceed a decade.
In addition to production, companies are responsible for complying with environmental requirements, investing in safety, and contributing royalties and special participations, which help finance producing states and municipalities.
Where is there oil in Brazil?
Brazil's main oil reserves are concentrated off the southeastern coast, especially in the Campos and Santos basins. It is in this region that the pre-salt fields are located, responsible for the majority of national production.
The Campos Basin, off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, was the country's first major offshore hub and still maintains strategic importance. Cities like Macaé, Campos dos Goytacazes, and Angra dos Reis are part of the oil industry's logistics route, with support bases, ports, and infrastructure geared towards maritime operations.
In Angra dos Reis, for example, the port is used as a support point for vessels serving platforms in the Santos Basin. The city also houses shipyards, naval maintenance areas, and specialized services for the oil and gas sector, reinforcing its role in the production chain, even without having producing fields within its territory.
The Santos Basin, on the other hand, concentrates the largest pre-salt fields, such as Lula, Búzios, and Sapinhoá, which are among the most productive in the world. These areas account for a large part of the growth in Brazilian production in recent years.
Besides the Southeast region, Brazil has oil in the basins of Espírito Santo, Potiguar, Sergipe-Alagoas, and the Recôncavo Baiano region. On land, the Recôncavo, in Bahia, was the cradle of the national oil industry, with exploration beginning as early as the 1940s.
There are also areas under study on the Equatorial Margin, which extends from Amapá to Rio Grande do Norte. These regions are of interest, but face environmental and regulatory discussions before advancing to the exploration phase.
What is onshore like?
Onshore production represents a smaller share of national extraction, but it remains relevant, especially in the Northeast. Onshore wells are simpler and cheaper to drill compared to offshore wells.
In the Recôncavo Baiano region, for example, production occurs in areas close to cities and roads, with wells scattered across mature fields. Many of these reservoirs are already in decline, but still generate revenue.
The land-based operation involves collection stations, pipelines, and small treatment units. The visual impact is greater, as the equipment is exposed, requiring additional care for the local community and the environment.
Independent companies have been taking over onshore fields that previously belonged to Petrobras, seeking to increase efficiency and extend the lifespan of these areas.
Offshore
Offshore oil production is the heart of Brazilian production. More than 90 percent of the country's oil comes from the sea, mainly from the pre-salt layer. Operations take place hundreds of kilometers from the coast, in waters that can exceed two thousand meters in depth.
The platforms are veritable floating cities, with accommodations, helipads, power systems, and teams working in shifts of up to 14 days aboard.
The extracted oil undergoes gas and water separation while still on the platform. The gas can be reinjected into the reservoir or sent via pipelines to the mainland. The oil is stored on the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel itself and later transferred to oil tankers.
Logistics involve helicopters, support vessels, and land-based control centers. Any disruption, whether due to bad weather or technical failure, can impact production.
How much does Brazil produce?
The giant discoveries in the pre-salt layer have made Brazil self-sufficient in oil production. The total volume extracted in the country today is around 2,6 million barrels per day. In theory, this number would be sufficient to meet the national demand for fuels.
Much of this production comes from the pre-salt fields, which stand out for the high productivity of their wells. Some of them produce more than 30 barrels per day, a high volume by international standards.
In addition to domestic consumption, Brazil exports crude oil, mainly to China, the United States, and European countries. Exports help balance the trade balance, but also reflect limitations in refining capacity.
Even with high production levels, the country still imports refined products like diesel and gasoline at certain times, revealing a mismatch between production and refining.
See how Alutal operates in oil operations.
With the expansion of pre-salt production and the growing demand for precise control of industrial processes, Brazilian companies specializing in instrumentation have taken on a strategic role in the oil supply chain. This is the case with Alutal, which provides solutions for the oil and gas sector and offers the Eclipse® guided wave radar transmitter from Magnetrol in Brazil, one of the most traditional pieces of equipment in the global oil industry.
The Eclipse® is used for level measurement in tanks, separators, and process vessels, ensuring reliable readings even in environments with high temperatures, high pressure, and the presence of steam and corrosive fluids. Its operation is based on the emission of radar pulses that travel along a metallic probe installed inside the reservoir. Upon reaching the liquid surface, the signal is reflected and returns to the transmitter, allowing for an accurate reading of the fluid level.
In offshore production, the equipment is used in oil, water, and gas separators, as well as storage tanks on platforms. In onshore operations and refineries, the transmitter is used to control critical processes, contributing to operational safety and production efficiency.
Magnetrol's tradition in the oil and gas sector is associated with the robustness of its instruments and the reliability of its measurements. With Alutal's presence in the Brazilian market, these solutions reach national operations with local technical support, facilitating implementation in industrial projects and production units throughout the country.
In an industry where measurement errors can lead to operational risks, financial losses, and environmental impacts, equipment like Eclipse® remains part of the technical standard adopted by major oil operators.
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