Brazil
Photo: Einar Aslaksen
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Equinor has been present in Brazil for more than two decades, and we see the country as a core area for long-term growth. In our local portfolio, besides O&G assets, we are expanding our investments into renewable energies.
How to find us in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
Rua do Russel 804, GlĂłria
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Postal code: 22.210-010
Brazil
Telephone: +55 (21) 3479-9800
www.equinor.com.br
Oil and natural gas
Development
Raia, one of our main natural gas projects
Located in the Campos Basin, Raia comprises three different pre-salt discoveries: PĂŁo de AçĂșcar, GĂĄvea and Seat. They contain natural gas and oil/condensate recoverable reserves of above 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Boe). The gas export capacity is 16 MSm3/d and may represent 15% of the total Brazilian gas demand at start-up, which is expected in 2028.
Raia is operated by Equinor (35%), in partnership with Repsol Sinopec (35%) and Petrobras (30%). The asset is innovative in Brazil and is based on production by wells connected to a FPSO with the capacity to process produced oil/condensate and gas, as well as specifying them for sale.
The gas specified for commercialization will be discharged through a 200 km offshore pipeline, leaving the FPSO towards CabiĂșnas, in the city of MacaĂ© (Rio de Janeiro, BR). The liquids will be offloaded through reliever vessels. For the first time in Brazil, we will specify the gas offshore and deliver it directed to the transmission system without the need for onshore processing, due to the quality of the hydrocarbons that will be produced in the field.
Raiaâs FPSO is expected to be the most self-powered carbon efficient in the world. It will be Equinorâs second FPSO in Brazil using combined cycle gas turbines, which will have a steam turbine to take advantage of excess heat that would otherwise be lost. The average CO2 intensity of the field over its lifetime will be lower than 6 kilos per barrel. FPSO capacity is approximately 126.000 bpd.
Together with partners, Equinor announced the investment of approximately USD 9 billion to develop the project. Raia is one of the main gas projects in the country being a key contributor to the further development of the Brazilian gas market. The project will also contribute to local energy security and economic development, creating up to 50.000 direct and indirect jobs locally throughout its lifetime.
Bacalhau, the first pre-salt project to be developed by an international operator.
Bacalhau will be important not only for Brazil but also for the global market. The field is located in the Santos Basin, and operated by Equinor (40%), in partnership with ExxonMobil (40%), Petrogal Brasil (20%) and PPSA (Government Company). Equinor acquired the operatorship in 2016, and first oil is expected in 2025.
This is the first project in the Brazilian pre-salt area to be entirely developed by an international operator and where Equinor uses its global competence and local expertise to generate value with low emissions. The project will also contribute to local economic development, creating up to 50.000 direct and indirect jobs locally throughout its lifetime.
Bacalhau will feature one of the largest FPSOs in the world. The ship is 364 meters long and 64 meters wide, with a production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day. The asset has a high-quality carbonate reservoir containing light oil.
Bacalhau will use combined cycle gas turbines, significantly reducing our carbon emissions. The technology combines a gas turbine with a steam turbine to take advantage of excess heat that would otherwise be lost. The introduction of combined cycle technology increases energy efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions by about 110K tons/year, which is about 3 million tons over the field lifetime. The field is expected to have a CO2 intensity lower than 9 kg/barrel.
Production
Peregrino is paving the future of the company in Brazil
The story of Equinor in Brazil started with Peregrino, a field that many did not consider possible to develop and where we established a solid foundation to grow in the country.
More than 230 million barrels have been safely produced in Peregrino since 2011. It is the largest production field operated by Equinor outside Norway, with daily production of 110,000 barrels of oil.
Peregrino consists of a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platform, supported by three fixed platforms: Alfa, Bravo and Charlie. The field is in Campos Basin, operated by Equinor (60%), in partnership with Sinochem (40%).
Roncador, a strategic partnership.
Roncador was the largest offshore discovery in Brazil in the 1990s and has a current production of almost 150,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), as well as being the largest producing field outside the pre-salt area, with approximately 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent originally in the reservoir.
Operated by Petrobras (75%), in partnership with Equinor (25%) since 2018, we have the ambition to reach an additional 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Petrobras is the world's largest deepwater operator, and Equinor has extensive competence and experience in Increased Oil Recovery (IOR).
The systematic IOR process has already demonstrated impressive results in Roncador, with the first eight wells showing a 50% reduction in costs and contributing to increase 25% of the field's production.
The strategic alliance agreement also includes an energy efficiency and CO2 emissions reduction program for Roncador.
Renewables
In Equinor we are transforming our company to support and accelerate the energy transition and ensure a competitive and resilient business model in line with the Paris Agreement.
This means reducing emissions from our oil and gas production, growing within wind and solar, and developing low-carbon solutions on an industrial scale.
In our business there are a multitude of ways in which we can contribute to reducing carbon emissions, and we are taking concerted action in many areas to effect real change.
Apodi â CearĂĄ, operated by Scatec (43,5%), in partnership with Equinor (43,5%) and ApodiPar (13%)
Apodi is the first solar plant in Equinor's global portfolio and started production in 2018. Apodi has a capacity of 162 MW, providing energy capable of supplying 200,000 Brazilian homes.
Mendubim â Rio Grande do Norte, a joint venture between Scatec (30%), Equinor (30%), Hydro Rein (30%) and Alunorte (10%)
The 531 MW Mendubim solar plants started production in March 2024. Mendubim will annually produce 1.2 TWh of power which is equivalent to the consumption of 620,000 Brazilian households. Around 60% of the power is sold on a 20-year USD-denominated power purchase agreement (PPA) with Alunorte, one of the worldâs leading suppliers of alumina for the aluminium industry. The remaining production is sold in the power market in Brazil.
Rio Energy
Equinor acquired Rio Energy, a leading onshore renewables company in Brazil, in 2023. The acquired portfolio consists of the 0.2 GW Serra da Babilonia 1, producing onshore wind farm in the state of Bahia, a 0.6 GW pre-construction solar PV portfolio and a project pipeline of about 1.2 GW of onshore wind and solar projects. The portfolio is developed and operated by the Rio Energy team of around 140 people.
In June 2024, Equinor announced the final investment decision in Serra da BabilĂŽnia (SdB) solar complex, the first one after the acquisition of Rio Energy. Located in Bahia, in the same area of the already existing wind farm Serra da BabilĂŽnia I, this will be Equinor's first hybrid project in the world. With 140MWp, SdB Solar will initiate operations by the end of 2025.
Creating Value in Brazil
Being a partner to our host communities is important to ensure our long-term relationship and the success of our activities. We believe that we can bring a range of positive benefits to the societies where we operate, when these are pursued in collaboration.
Sponsorships
Increasing Brazilians' access to cultural initiatives is in line with Equinor's objectives to create local value for the country. The company believes that, through education, sports and culture, it creates lasting local value and helps develop a better-empowered society for generations to come.
Since 2018, Equinor has been the Master sponsor of MAR (Rio Art Museum), GalpĂŁo Aplauso project and Urece Goalball Institute.
Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR)
In partnership with the city's Secretariat of Education and in collaboration with universities, MAR developed the Escola do Olhar academic program to discuss art, image culture, education and practices in curation.
GalpÄo Aplauso
An institution with more than 20 years of experience in the professionalization of young people in situations of social vulnerability in five main skills of art: visual arts, circus, dance, music and theater.
Goalball
Created by and for people with visual impairments, the objective of this project is to provide quality educational practices, specifically Goalball for young people at social risk in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Social Investment
Since 2017, Equinor has been investing in institutions and social projects focused on education for young people, such as Dream Lean Work and Trilha Empreendedora. In 2024, the company had also launched a long-term educational program in Rio de Janeiro, called Bem-te-vi.
Bem-te-vi project
Bem-te-vi is a long-term educational program by Equinor in Brazil. Through a partnership with Rio de Janeiro State Government, launched in June 2024, Equinor is committed to use education as a tool to provide people from a local community in the city of Rio de Janeiro with better opportunities.
The project is being developed at Reverendo Hugh Clarence Tucker School and includes an educational journey gathering sustainability and energy transition classes, additional English classes and support towards joining the energy job market. By preparing students with essential skills to enter the energy market, Bem-te-vi will also support local community development and Brazil's growing energy sector. By 2030, around 650 students will be benefited by the program.
Around 90% of the students of this school live in Morro da ProvidĂȘncia, a community that has played a significant role in shaping the history of Rio de Janeiro. Birthplace of samba, Morro da ProvidĂȘncia has been the scene of many historical transformations that have helped shape Rio's culture and identity. Located in the Port Region, it is considered by some historians as the first favela in Rio. Besides its historical significance for the city of Rio de Janeiro, it is an area where Equinor also sponsor two other projects â GalpĂŁo Aplauso and the MAR Museum â an opportunity of streamlining efforts and maximizing positive impacts on society.
Dream Learn Work
Dream Learn Work is a non-profit organization founded by Norwegian companies in Brazil. It was created to support the entry of young Brazilians from less developed areas into the labor market. Equinor provides financial support to sponsor technical courses and have been developing mentoring program and other activities for DLWâs participants.
Trilha Empreendedora
Trilha Empreendedora is a project developed by the NGO Junior Achievement and, through IBP (Brazilian Petroleum Institute), several companies in the sector have supported this initiative, including Equinor. The project allows employees of the companies involved to volunteer hours of their time to exchange experiences with young people about the job market, financial education, entrepreneurship, among other topics.
Mar Atento
In partnership with Shell, Equinor have been developing a project called Mar Atento which aims to provide operational knowledge to fishermen enabling them to act in case of an emergence response. The project is already being developed in six municipalities in Campos Basin and until now around 300 fishermen were trained.
Mandatory Projects with Local Communities
Part of the Brazilian environmental licensing process, monitored by the environmental agency â IBAMA, as part of the environmental license conditions which aim to mitigate environmental impacts associated with potentially polluting activity.
The Social Communication Project (PCS) aims to provide information and to be a channel between company and impacted communities, especially social groups related to the fishing chain.
Our environmental education project is called PEA FOCO and is focused on women of the fishing chain. The project is developed in five municipalities surrounding the Campos Basin (SĂŁo Francisco do Itabapoana, SĂŁo JoĂŁo da Barra, Cabo Frio, Armação dos BĂșzios, Arraial do Cabo) and it aims to strengthen community organization and provide awareness about citizenship, rights and duties towards local public policies, gender equality and income generation initiatives. This project has been developed since 2011.
Research & Development
Since the 1970s, Equinor has been partnering with academia in Norway and other countries where it operates, focusing on strategic activities for both parties.
In Brazil, Equinor has invested around R$ 520 million through R&D projects. Currently Equinor has around 35 R&D projects ongoing, with academia, and local companies, being suppliers, medium and small companies, with some projects being developed in partnership with peer companies.
In accordance with Brazilian regulations that require investments in research, development, and innovation in the country, Equinor Brasilâs investments are concentrated in the following areas: Submarine, Subsurface, Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Portfolio.