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
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal






