Petrobras announced the temporary interruption of drilling in the Foz do Amazonas region after identifying a loss of fluid in two auxiliary lines. The affected structures are support pipes that connect the drill ship and the Morpho well, located approximately 175 kilometers off the coast of Amapá.
According to the company, the leak was quickly controlled and isolated as soon as it was detected. As a preventive measure, the operation was halted to allow the pipes to be lifted to the surface, where they will undergo technical inspection and repairs.
In a statement, the state-owned company reinforced that there was no compromise to the probe or the well, both of which were maintained in safe conditions. Petrobras also highlighted that the episode does not pose a risk to the safety of drilling activities.
The company also informed that all necessary control actions were adopted and that the responsible bodies have already been notified. According to Petrobras, the drilling fluid used is within the permitted toxicity limits and is biodegradable, causing no harm to the environment or people’s health.
The exploration of the Morpho well occurs after the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) granted, on October 20, the license to drill the first well in the Foz do Amazonas Basin. The environmental licensing process had started in 2020.
