Petrobras wins approval to resume drilling in Brazil’s Foz do Amazonas frontier

(Reuters) - Brazil’s oil regulator has authorized Petrobras to resume drilling operations in the environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas region, reopening one of the country’s most closely watched offshore exploration campaigns.

According to Reuters, Brazil’s National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) approved the restart after previously suspending activity in early January following a leak of synthetic drilling fluid from auxiliary lines connecting a rig to a planned offshore well near the northern state of Amapá. The incident prompted regulatory review and renewed scrutiny from environmental groups and Indigenous organizations concerned about potential impacts to the region’s marine ecosystems.

The Foz do Amazonas basin is considered one of Brazil’s most promising frontier exploration areas, with geological similarities to Guyana’s prolific offshore discoveries. Petrobras has spent several years pursuing approvals to drill in the region as part of its strategy to expand reserves and sustain long-term production growth from new offshore provinces.

The regulator’s decision allows Petrobras to move forward with drilling plans following corrective actions related to the earlier leak. The restart marks a key step in advancing exploration in Brazil’s equatorial margin, an emerging focus area for both Petrobras and international operators seeking new deepwater resources.