There are currently 4 platforms in operation in the field, which will receive the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão later this year.

FPSO Guanabara, one of the four units in operation in the Mero field, is currently the largest production platform in the country

The Mero field, located in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin, reached the milestone of 500 thousand barrels of oil produced daily on Friday, February 28. This made it the third Petrobras field in operation to surpass this number.

The Libra block, where the Mero field is located, was acquired by the Libra Consortium in 2013, and was the first contract signed under the production sharing regime in Brazil.

There are currently four platforms in operation in the Mero Field, the first of which began production in 2017 (FPSO Pioneiro de Libra).

“Since extracting its first oil, Mero’s production has been marked by technological advances, innovation and production records. The 500 thousand barrels per day mark is the result of the work of several areas and the new technologies used in our projects and in our day-to-day operations. The company remains committed to operating sustainably, optimizing production in existing fields and, in doing so, helping to provide the energy needed for the country’s development,” says Magda Chambriard, CEO of Petrobras.

The operation, which began in 2017, was expanded with the Guanabara platform vessels – currently the country’s largest producer – Sepetiba and Duque de Caxias. Also in 2025, the fifth unit, the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão, which left China in December 2024, will come into operation.

With the new platform, the field’s installed production capacity will increase to 770,000 barrels of oil per day. The pre-salt currently accounts for 81% of Petrobras’ total production.

“Mero is the third largest field in Brazil and, in terms of volume of oil in place and production, is behind only Tupi and Búzios, also located in the Santos Basin pre-salt. And production will increase even further with the completion of the ramp-up of the FPSO Marechal Duque de Caxias and the start-up of the FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão. We have invested heavily in technological development, which allows us to increase productivity while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, with safety and integrity of the facilities”, says Sylvia Anjos, Petrobras’ Exploration and Production Director.

Discovered in 2010, Mero is located in ultra-deep waters (depth of 2,100 meters), 180 km off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The field is governed by the Libra Production Sharing Contract - operated by Petrobras (38.6%), in partnership with Shell Brasil (19.3%), TotalEnergies (19.3%), CNOOC (9.65%), CNPC (9.65%) and Pré-Sal Petróleo SA (PPSA) (3.5%), which, in addition to managing the contract, acts as the Union’s representative in the non-contracted area (3.5%).

KeyFacts Energy: Petrobras Brazil country profile