---
title: Pre-Salt Deepwater Drilling Technology
type: technology
url: "https://www.envisioning.com/research/vector/brazil__pre-salt-deepwater-drilling-technology"
hub: vector
summary: Petrobras pioneered ultra-deepwater drilling through 2km of water, 1km of rock, and 2km of salt to reach oil reservoirs — the Búzios field hit 1 million barrels/day in October 2025
---

# Pre-Salt Deepwater Drilling Technology

Petrobras pioneered ultra-deepwater drilling through 2km of water, 1km of rock, and 2km of salt to reach oil reservoirs — the Búzios field hit 1 million barrels/day in October 2025
- Technology Readiness Level: 9/9
- Impact: 4/5
- Investment: 4/5
Pre-salt oil lies beneath 2,000 meters of water, 1,000 meters of post-salt rock, and 2,000 meters of salt. Reaching it required breakthroughs in seismic imaging through salt (which distorts sound waves), drill bit technology for salt layers, and well integrity at extreme pressures and temperatures.

Petrobras developed these capabilities through its PROCAP program (Technological Capacitation in Deep Waters), spending decades and billions on R&D. The Búzios field achieved 1 million barrels per day in October 2025 — three months ahead of schedule — making it the world's largest deepwater production field.

When fully developed with 12 FPSO vessels, Búzios alone will produce nearly 2 million barrels daily — more than most countries. The pre-salt province as a whole made Brazil the world's 7th largest oil producer. The technology is being exported: Petrobras licenses its deepwater expertise to operators globally.

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Source: Envisioning — Technology Research Institute (https://www.envisioning.com/research/vector/brazil__pre-salt-deepwater-drilling-technology)