São Paulo – The first load of oil extracted from the pre-salt layer in Tupi field, Santos Basin, has started being processed at Henrique Lage Refinery – Revap, in São José dos Campos. A total of 42,000 cubic metres (264,000 barrels) of oil to be processed in two campaigns.
This oil is classified as having low sulphur levels – the lower the sulphur content, the easier is compliancy with future oil-product specifications, which are becoming stricter and stricter, mainly in the case of naphtha and diesel. The oil of Tupi Field has low naphthenic acidity and good profitability, as it does not produce bunker fuel, which is a product with low added value.
The Tupi reservoir is more than 3,000 meters under the seabed, below 2,000 metres of salt, in waters at an average depth of 2,140 metres and a distance of 300 km from the coast of the state of São Paulo. The recoverable volumes in Tupi area are estimated at between 5 and 8 billion barrels of high-quality, light oil, as well as natural gas.
*Translated by Mark Ament
