Rio’s Búzios field breaks gas export records

The Búzios field, situated in the pre-salt layer of the Santos basin off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, broke natural gas export records in August, according to Petrobras' announcement on Wednesday, August 26. The average monthly gas exports surpassed 10 million cubic meters per day, surpassing the previous record of 9.1 million m³/d set in March 2026. Located approximately 180 km offshore, the field operates in ultra-deep waters, reaching depths of 2,100 meters.

This recent achievement came with an even higher daily export record, with Búzios reaching 14.1 million m³/d on August 6, surpassing the previous peak of 13.9 million m³/d observed in July. Petrobras attributes this surge not to the introduction of new production systems, but rather to the optimization of existing units. Among the key initiatives is a program aimed at modernizing gas treatment plants on platforms P-74, P-75, P-76, and P-77.

This project, initiated in 2025, has significantly increased the export capacity of these platforms, from around 1.5 million to 3 million m³/d per platform, with the potential for further expansion through additional process adjustments.

The Almirante Barroso FPSO unit also played a role in these results. Petrobras has plans to expand gas export capacity further in the coming years. The systems for platforms P-78 and P-79 are scheduled to become operational by 2027. By the completion of the field's development, out of the 12 planned platforms, eight will have gas export capacity. The Búzios 12 unit, set to begin operations in 2032, is expected to generate a capacity of 5.5 million m³/d, as stated in a press release by Petrobras.