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BP discovered major oil and gas reserves at the Bumerangue block in Brazil’s Santos Basin, its largest find in 25 years. The offshore well reached 5,855 meters deep.
News18
Energy giant bp has announced a major oil and gas discovery at the Bumerangue block in Brazil’s Santos Basin, marking its largest find in over two decades. The exploration well 1-BP-13-SPS was drilled 404 kilometres (218 nautical miles) offshore from Rio de Janeiro, in a water depth of 2,372 metres, reaching a total depth of 5,855 metres.
This also marks the return of bp to hydrocarbons or fossil fuels.
The well intersected the reservoir approximately 500 metres below the structure’s crest and penetrated a gross hydrocarbon column of around 500 metres within high-quality pre-salt carbonate rock. The reservoir spans over 300 square kilometres, indicating significant resource potential.
Preliminary rig-site analysis showed elevated carbon dioxide levels. bp will now conduct detailed laboratory studies to better understand the reservoir characteristics and fluid composition. Further appraisal work is planned, subject to regulatory approvals.
“This is a significant discovery—bp’s largest in 25 years,” said Gordon Birrell, Executive Vice President for Production & Operations at bp. “It highlights the strength of our exploration team and reinforces our strategic focus on expanding our upstream business. Brazil remains a key growth region for us, and we’re looking at the possibility of developing a major production hub here.”
bp holds 100% equity in the Bumerangue block, with Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. managing the Production Sharing Contract. The block was acquired in December 2022 during the 1st Cycle of ANP’s Open Acreage of Production Sharing on favourable commercial terms.
The Bumerangue find marks bp’s tenth exploration success in 2025. Other recent discoveries have been made in Trinidad, Egypt, the Gulf of Mexico, Libya, Namibia, Angola, and other parts of Brazil. The company aims to grow its global upstream production to 2.3–2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030, with potential increases through 2035.
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst…Read More
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst… Read More
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