Shell to Boost Deepwater Production in Brazil

THE HAGUE, the Netherlands, July 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Shell (NYSE: RDS.A)(NYSE: RDS.B), and its partners, are expecting to boost production with two new deepwater projects at Parque das Conchas (BC-10) and the Bijupirá/Salema fields.

"Offshore Brazil is a key part of our plans to grow our deepwater portfolio - a key component of our global strategy," said John Hollowell, Executive Vice President for Deep Water, Shell Upstream Americas. "We look forward to continuing the work with our partners in offshore Brazil to develop the resources in a safe and responsible way."

For Parque das Conchas (BC-10), Shell and its partners Petrobras and ONGC, have decided to move forward with Phase 3 of the project, which will include the installation of subsea-infrastructure at the Massa and Argonauta O-South fields. These fields will be tied-back to the Espírito Santo - the floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) - that is at the center of the Parque das Conchas development.

Once online, Phase 3 of the BC-10 project is expected to reach a peak production of 28,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day (Shell share 50%, Petrobras 35%, ONGC 15%). Since coming on-stream in 2009, the BC-10 project has produced more than 70 million boe. Phase 2 of the project, to tie-in the Argonauta O-North field, continues to progress and is expected to come online late 2013 with a peak production of 35,000 boe per day (Shell share 50%, Petrobras 35%, ONGC 15%).

At the Bijupirá/Salema fields, a re-development is underway that includes the drilling of four new production wells. This is expected to boost production from these fields to a peak of 35,000 boe per day in 2014 (Shell share 80%, Petrobras 20%). The Bijupirá/Salema fields have produced close to 100 million boe since startup in 2003.

Editors Notes:

• Shell is currently operating two FPSOs in Brazil's offshore - the Espírito Santo at Parque das Conchas and the Fluminense at the Bijupirá/Salema fields.
• Photographs and a map are available here.

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SOURCE Royal Dutch Shell plc