Pre-salt fuelling Petrobras’ upstream ambitions
The offshore region is poised to significantly ramp up production as more midstream gas infrastructure reaches startup and divestments keep coming
Brazilian state oil firm Petrobras has big plans for the pre-salt, according to the company’s latest five-year strategy document. The NOC expects to produce 20bn bl oe over the next ten years—with the pre-salt region producing 79pc of supply by 2026—almost as much as the previous 68 years of its history combined. E&P is at the core of Petrobras’ near-term strategy. It will funnel 84pc of capex into the upstream over the next five years, while spending 63pc of that amount on the pre-salt. Barrels produced from the region will drive a 19pc jump in company production by 2026, with Petrobras guiding 3.2mn bl/d. The company’s offshore Buzios field, in the Santos basin, is key to this gr
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny






