'Laguna Star' spuds Carcara appraisal well in Brazil
QGEP Participações S.A. (QGEP) has announced that the drilling of the first phase of an appraisal well at the Carcará Discovery, located in Block BM-S-8 in the Santos Basin has begun. The first phase, which will utilise the ‘Laguna Star’ rig (NS-44), will extend to the bottom of the salt layer. Drilling will be completed in a second phase, which will start in 2015, using a rig equipped with Measured Pressure Drilling (MPD). The well is located 5km from the pioneer well, in water depths of 2,023 meters. Queiroz Galvão Exploração e Produção S.A. holds a 10% participating interest in Block BM-S-8. Petrobras, which has a 66% stake, is the operator. Other consortium members include Petrogal Brasil, which has a 14% stake, and Barra Energia do Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda, which has a 10% stake.