OGX Maranhão, which was set up by OGX and MPX, has been granted the Installation License (LI nº 10/1012) by the Secretary of State for the Environment and Natural Resources of Maranhão (SEMA/MA) for the production and transport of natural gas in the Gavião Real and Gavião Azul fields, in the Parnaíba Basin. This document is part of the environmental licensing process for the venture, which will produce and process natural gas for the Parnaíba Thermo-electric Complex, currently under construction in the region. At this point the total contracted capacity of the Complex already amounts to 1.5GW and highlights the synergies between OGX and MPX.
The next few weeks should see the beginning of the construction of the Gas Treatment Unit (GTU), which will be located in the vicinity of the Parnaíba Thermo-electric Complex, in the municipality of Santo Antônio dos Lopes. At this GTU any liquids in the gas will be removed, and the gas will be filtered and heated to reach the required specifications. The total investment in the venture (plant and installations) will be approximately R$ 216 million.
Gas production should begin in the second half of 2012 and could reach up to 6 million cubic meters per day of natural gas. This volume will double Brazil’s current onshore production of natural gas.
Natural Gas in Maranhão
OGX Maranhão has been operating in the Parnaíba Basin since December 2009, when it began seismic research in part of the eight exploration blocks for which it holds concessions. Since 2010, 10 wells have been drilled in the region using two drilling rigs (HQ-1 and BCH-5). A third rig will shortly reinforce these activities.
The company has already created some 1,500 jobs in the State and another 400 to 500 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase of the GTU.