Petrobras Halts Morpho Well Drilling After Fluid Leak in Foz do Amazonas

Overview

• Petrobras stopped operations on January 4 after detecting a loss of drilling fluid in two auxiliary lines about 175 km off Amapá, later pinpointed by ROV at roughly 2,700 meters depth.
• The company says the biodegradable, low-toxicity fluid was immediately contained and isolated, with the affected lines to be recovered to the surface for inspection and repair.
• Press and company guidance indicate the campaign could be paused for roughly 10 to 15 days for repairs, introducing short-term uncertainty to the five-month exploratory schedule.
• Ibama requested a detailed report on the incident, including qualitative and quantitative formulation of the fluid and laboratory analyses, and continues to monitor the operation.
• The MPF in Amapá demanded clarifications from Petrobras and Ibama within 48 hours, while environmental and Indigenous groups filed for suspension of the license, citing risk concerns and reporting an unconfirmed estimate of about 15,000 liters leaked.