Petrobras has confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons in an exploratory well located in block FZA-M-59, situated in ultra-deep waters approximately 175km off the coast of Amapá, Brazil.
The well, known as Morpho and formally designated 1-BRSA-1405-APS, is positioned within the Amazon River mouth sedimentary basin at a water depth of 2,886m.
Petrobras confirmed the hydrocarbon presence using electrical and rock indicator logs, standard tools used to assess subsurface formations during exploratory drilling.
Drilling activities at the site remain underway, with the company continuing to evaluate the area as part of its broader exploratory programme.
Petrobras stated that operations are proceeding with close attention to safety and to environmental and social considerations, reflecting the sensitivity of drilling in the ecologically significant equatorial margin region.
Petrobras operates block FZA-M-59 and holds a full 100 per cent stake in the concession, giving the company complete control over the pace and direction of exploration activities at the site.
The block was originally acquired during the 11th Bidding Round conducted by Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels in 2013, more than a decade before this latest discovery.
Petrobras president Magda Chambriard highlighted the significance of the find, framing it as validation of the company’s long-term strategy in the region.
“Our optimism regarding Brazil’s equatorial margin is confirmed today,” Chambriard said.
“This first discovery off the coast of Amapá is the result of Petrobras’ dedication and competence, which is committed to replenishing oil reserves and ensuring the country’s energy security.”
According to Petrobras, exploration of block FZA-M-59 forms part of a wider strategy aimed at maintaining and renewing the company’s oil and gas reserves through new discoveries in frontier regions.
The equatorial margin, which stretches along Brazil’s northern coastline, has increasingly become a focus for exploration companies seeking to offset declining output from more mature basins.
The company emphasised that this exploratory work is intended to help meet Brazil’s ongoing energy demand even as the country navigates a broader energy transition toward lower carbon sources.
With drilling still in progress at Morpho, Petrobras has not yet released further details on the scale of the discovery or a timeline for potential development.
The company is expected to continue assessing the well and the surrounding block as part of its ongoing exploratory programme in the Amazon River mouth basin, a region that has drawn growing industry attention despite persistent environmental scrutiny of drilling activity so close to sensitive coastal ecosystems.
