Maersk Oil’s big investment in Brazil

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S plans to increase its presence in the pre-salt Brazilian offshore market through a proposed $2.4 billion cash acquisition of SK do Brasil Ltda.

A wholly owned subsidiary of A.P. Moller Maersk, Maersk Olie og Gas A/S would acquire SK do Brasil Ltda. from SK Energy Co. Ltd. in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition is subject to government approval.

“The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group has a stated ambition to grow Maersk Oil,” says company CEO Nils S. Andersen. Maersk Oil CEO Jakob Thomasen adds, “The acquisition is consistent with our strategy as it will transform Brazil into a core producing country for Maersk Oil.

Maerk’s invest comes as oil production from deepwater Brazil ramps up. Petrobras reported at the end of December that it recorded new records for monthly, annual and daily oil production averages. The monthly average for December was 2,120 thousand barrels per day, up from the previous record of 2,030 thousand barrels per day recorded in April 2010.

Under the acquisition from SK Energy, Maersk Oil would acquire shares in three blocks. The three blocks are BM-C-008, which includes the Polvo Field (40 percent share, Devon operated), BM-C-030, which includes the Wahoo discovery (20 percent share, Anadarko operated) and BM-C-032 that includes the Itaipu discovery (27 percent share, Devon operated). BP has bought Devon’s Brazilian activities and, once it receives regulatory approval, will become operator of these fields.

The Polvo Field offers a current net production of approx. 10,000 bbls of oil a day (SK do Brasil Ltda. share). The Wahoo and Itaipu discoveries will be appraised in 2011 and first oil may be possible by 2016 and 2018, respectively. Additional exploration prospectivity has been observed in both these blocks, some of which is planned to be tested in 2013.