Petrobras to Resume Equatorial Margin Drilling

Petrobras plans to resume drilling at the Morpho well in the coming week, according to a report by news service Broadcast on September 8, 2026. The move follows environmental regulator Ibama issuing Operating License No. 1,684 on September 3, 2026. The approval came after the state-controlled energy producer reported discovering hydrocarbons in ultra-deep waters on August 14, 2026.

The Morpho well is located in block FZA-M-59, approximately 175 kilometers off the coast of Amapa in a water depth of 2,886 meters. Petrobras holds a 100% operating stake in the offshore concession.

Ibama authorized the drilling of three contingent wells in block FZA-M-59 under specific regulatory conditions. The agency permits only one drilling rig to operate simultaneously across the block. Petrobras has a deadline of 30 days from official notification to submit an updated drilling schedule to the regulator.

The campaign is part of a wider exploration program across the Equatorial Margin. Petrobras has allocated 2.5 billion USD in planned exploration capital expenditure through 2030, with plans to drill 15 exploration wells in the frontier region.