This discovery, which includes a significant oil column and a large liquids-rich gas-condensate column, is BP's largest in 25 years and points toward establishing a new, material production hub in the region.
BP today announced confirmation of a significant hydrocarbon discovery at its Bumerangue block, located in the deepwater, pre-salt Santos Basin, Brazil. Following up on the initial August discovery, laboratory and pressure gradient analysis has confirmed the presence of an immense 1,000-metre gross hydrocarbon column, comprising an estimated 100-metre gross oil column and a substantial 900-metre gross liquids-rich gas-condensate column.
The sheer scale of the column, combined with the presence of high-quality pre-salt carbonate rock across an areal extent greater than 300 square kilometres, positions the Bumerangue find as a potential game-changer for the company. The discovery, drilled to a total depth of 5,855 metres in a water depth of 2,372 metres, is now formally acknowledged as BP's largest in the last 25 years.
The geological findings are extremely encouraging, indicating a significant volume of liquids throughout the reservoir. BP noted that the rock properties observed are of high quality, which, coupled with its extensive experience in deepwater developments and technology, gives the company confidence that the carbon dioxide content in the reservoir can be effectively managed during development.
BP, which holds 100% participation in the Bumerangue block (with Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. as the Production Sharing Contract manager), is now accelerating laboratory testing and analysis. This next phase will focus on determining precise fluid characteristics, gas-to-oil and condensate-to-gas ratios, and providing a preliminary estimate of in-place volumes.
Gordon Birrell, EVP, Production & Operations for BP, underscored the strategic importance of the find: “2025 has seen significant strategic progress across bp’s Upstream with record plant reliability, six major project start-ups, five more sanctioned and a string of exploration discoveries including Bumerangue.” He added that while still in the exploration phase, initial results “indicate a very large hydrocarbon column and a significant volume of liquids in the reservoir.”
The company is already planning appraisal activities, with well activities expected to commence in early 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Furthermore, the team is exploring potential development concepts, including the option of an early production system to expedite first oil/gas.
The Bumerangue discovery is part of a successful exploration year for BP, marking one of 12 new finds globally, including others in the Gulf of America and Namibia (via its joint venture, Azule Energy). With a long-standing history in Brazil spanning over 50 years, this new discovery firmly reinforces BP’s commitment to growing its upstream portfolio.
