OREANDA-NEWS. December 26, 2013. BG Group confirms that its partner, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) - the operator of block BM-S-9 in the pre-salt Santos Basin - has submitted a Declaration of Commerciality (DoC) to the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), for the oil and gas accumulations in the Carioca area, offshore Brazil.

As part of the DoC, the consortium has suggested that the new field be named Lapa.

The Lapa field is located approximately 270 kilometres off the coast of Sao Paulo state, in water depths of around 2 140 metres. The DoC notification to the ANP also includes the operator’s estimates of total recoverable volumes associated with the initial stage of development.

BG Group is working with the consortium partners to achieve further optimisation of the development plan following encouraging results from the recent Carioca SW appraisal well drilled in October 2013.

The DoC submission was accompanied by the Final Report of the Discovery Assessment Plan following an exploration and appraisal programme which began in 2007 and consisted of acquiring 3D seismic, drilling five wells as well as performing three formations tests and an extended well test.

The Development Plan for the Lapa field will be submitted for ANP approval within the next 180 days.

BG Group has a 30% interest in the BM-S-9 concession, offshore Brazil (Petrobras, operator 45%, Repsol Sinopec Brasil 25%).