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WIKI ANALYSIS
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Petroleo Brasileiro SA, also known as Petrobras, is a Brazil based holding company that engages in the exploration, production, refining, and sale of crude oil and other energy sources. Petrobras operates over 100 production platforms, 16 refineries, 30,000 kilometers of transportation ducts and more than 6,000 gas station in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, the United States, Peru and Turkey.[1] Petrobras operates in four segments: Exploration and Production, Downstream, Gas and Energy, and International.[2] Through its Exploration and Production segment, Petrobras produced 2.06 billion BOE per day, of which 87% was crude oil.[3] Most of the oil produced from Petrobras’s wells is refined, sold, and transported through the company’s Downstream segment. By refining 1,978 thousand barrels per day of oil and 422,000 barrels of natural gas in 2008, Petrobras supplies almost the entire Brazilian continent with refined petroleum and gas products.[4] As of December 31, 2007, Natural gas reserve comprised 16% of the company’s total reserves, but Petrobras consolidated its natural gas operations under the Gas and Energy segment in 2008 to reduce operating costs and increase the company’s production of natural gas.[5]
While 90% of Petrobras’s 11.19 billion barrels of oil and gas reserves come from Brazil, the company has the potential of becoming a major net exporter of oil.[6] In particular, Chinese energy companies and Chinese banks agreed in February 2009 to finance the development of Petrobras’s offshore oil fields in exchange for guaranteed supplies of oil once the fields developed. However, low oil prices in 2008 and early 2009 have the potential of reducing Petrobras’s exploration efforts because of the expensive equipment and technology required to develop deepwater oilfields.[7] Despite low gasoline and diesel prices, Petrobras plans to continue expanding its domestic refining and distribution operations. As of December 31, 2008, Petrobras has the eighth largest downstream operations in terms of capacity in the world but annual investments of $22.5 billion from 2008 to 2012 have the potential to significantly increase Petrobras’s refining and transportation capacities.[8]
Business Financials
Acquisition of Petrobras de Valores Internacional de Espana SLIn April 2009, Petrobras took a 60% stake in Petrobras de Valores Internacional de Espana SL from Petrobras Energia SA for $619 million. [9]
Petrobras makes money from the following:
A key driver of the company's fundamental business is the level of its oil reserves. The majority (over 80%)of Brazilian oil production comes from a single location, the Campos Basin[10], with about 91% of this production coming from offshore sites.
As the national petroleum company of Brazil, Petrobras owns the largest gas pipeline network in the country by far, giving it a near monopoly on the natural gas supply in the country. It also invests heavily in areas outside Brazil, with acquisitions of foreign oil companies and contracts to explore deep water regions such as West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.[11]
Since 2002, Petrobras has developed new technologies allowing it to become increasingly successful at finding new oil deepwater exploration, outpacing bigger rivals such as ExxonMobil , BP, and ChevronTexaco. From 2002-2005, Petrobras doubled its success rate with exploratory wells [12] and in November 2007, announced the discovery of the deepwater Tupi oilfield, one of the largest such discoveries in decades at an estimated 5 to 8 billion BOE (barrels oil equivalent).
In the first quarter of 2008, Petrobras increased oil production by 2% and natural gas production by 10% sequentially. Net income increased from R$5 billion to R$6.9 billion. Revenues grew by R$1.5 billion. Operating profits for the upstream segment rose from R$12.8 billion to R$14.5 billion, driven by rising oil prices and increased production; simultaneously, operating profits for the downstream segment fell from a positive of R$478 million to a loss of R$903 million, as rising oil prices have crunched margins for all major refiners, even majors like Petrobras. The International segment saw operating losses of R$756 million in 4Q07 rise to an operating profit of R$166 million, as increased world demand from developing nations and a decreased Brazilian reliance on gasoline due to the fact that most of the nation's cars are fueled by ethanol led demand for Petrobras' oil to shift out of the domestic sphere. Gas and Power saw it operating losses decrease from R$756 million to R$502 million, thanks to the country's economic growth.
In the first half of 2008, the company saw a trade surplus of $500 million.[13] Second quarter net income rose 29% year-on-year, to $5.48 billion - a record high.[14] In October 2008, the company released the news that its September production was a record high - up 7.6% from the year before.[15]
Trends and Forces
Despite declining profits in first quarter 2009, Petrobras increases production and investments in offshore oilfieldsAlthough net profits for the first quarter of 2009 declined 20% when compared to the same quarter in 2008, Petrobras's capital investments increased 41% when compared to the first quarter of 2008.[16] For the first quarter of 2009, Petrobras' consolidated net profits were approximately $2.87 billion.[17] The decline in profits resulted from lower oil prices worldwide in the quarter as well as a 63% decline in domestic oil sales.[18]
Despite lower oil prices for the first quarter of 2009, Petrobras has continued to develop its offshore oilfields and increase oil and natural gas production. The Tupi fields, which were discovered in 2007, have the potential of containing reserves equivalent to 5 billion to 8 billion barrels of oil equivalents and were the focus of Petrobras' spending in the first three months of 2009.[19] Investments made during this quarter rose 41% when compared to the same quarter in 2008.[20] Petrobras' production in Brazil also increased in the first quarter of 2009. Domestic oil and natural gas production averaged 2.261 barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 7% increase from the first quarter in 2008 and the company highest quarterly production rate since its founding.[21] Production going on stream at three new platfroms contributed to this increase.[22]
Despite Weak Demand for Crude and Gasoline, Petrobras has record profits in 2008 and plans to out spend competitors in 2009For the full year 2008, Petrobras generated profits of $14.23 billion(USD), an increase of 58% from 2007.[23] Petrobras's net income was 30% higher in 2008 than in 2007.[24] Although total oil and gas production increased by 4% when compared to 2007, Petrobras's record profits were primarily a result of higher oil prices.[25] Gasoline and Diesel prices, which together represent 30% of Petrobras's overall sales in 2008, were respectively 10% and 15% higher in 2008. In addition, profits were also higher due to the 35% drop in refining costs.[26] However, domestic oil sales dropped .3% year-over-year in the last quarter of 2008.[27] Petrobras's management argues that the drop in domestic sales in the fourth quarter was a result of seasonal changes in fuel consumption and not the global recession beginning in 2007.[28]
With crude oil prices down 70%, many oil & gas majors like Chevron Corporation (CVX) and Exxon Mobil (XOM) expect lower earnings not only in their refining segments but also in their exploration and production segments.[29] Outspending Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron Corporation (CVX), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS'A) and state-owned oil companies like Petroleos de Venezuela, Petrobras plans to spend $174 billion to develop new natural gas and oil fields.[30] In order to meet the rising worldwide demand for energy , Petrobras plans to increase production 7% annually from 2009 to 2020.[31] Part of the proposed $174 billion will go to lowering production costs.[32] New projects have the potential to remain profitable if the long-term oil prices stays at $45, which is significantly smaller than the $70 long-term crude price OPEC members say they will need to remain profitable in the long term.[33] Petrobras management predicts that crude exports to the U.S. and Europe will increase as other oil majors close production rigs. Petrobras exported a company record of 620,000 barrels per day for the month of December.[34]
Additionally, Petrobras sells refined petroleum products at prices mandated by the Brazilian government.[35] As a result, Petrobras is not subject to the same refined price volatility and uncertainty that have hurt the profits of American oil refiners.[36] According to the director of Supply and Refining, Paulo Roberto Costa, Petrobras may lower its refined prices if crude prices in the U.S. stay at $30 for the first half of 2009.[37]
In February 2009, Petrobras installed a new production, storage, and offloading vessel in the Jabuti field that will increase production capacity by 100,000 barrels of crude/day and 3.5 million cubic meters of natural gas/day.[38] In January 2009, Petrobras increased its production capacity by 180,000 barrels of oil and 6 million cubic meters of natural gas a day when it finished its P-51 platform at the Marlim Sul field.[39] Petrobras also plans to start its long-term test at the Tupi field in the Santos Basin, which has the potential to hold between 5 billion to 8 billion barrels of crude reserves. Petrobrars plans to increase its total production capacity to 2.05 million barrels a day in response to the rising worldwide demand for energy.
To Finance Future Projects, Petrobras (PBR) seeks Foreign Investments from China, U.S.In order to meet its $174.4 billion 2009-2013 investment plan, Petrobras is seeking foreign investment from Chinese banks and oil companies, U.S. investors, and Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Middle East.[40] In particular, the China Development Bank has plans to invest $10 billion in Petrobras's exploration and production operations, particularly in developing the company's subsalt fields.[41] In addition to the China Development Bank, the China National Offshore Oil Corp. and an unnamed Chinese Bank began negotiating potential investments with Petrobras's management beginning in February 2009. In return for investments, Petrobras has promised future oil supplies. As a result, investments in Petrobras's subsalt oil fields are a way for China to secure future supplies in response to the rising worldwide demand for energy, particularly in China.[42] For example, Petrobras has entered a one-year deal with the Chinese state-owned oil company SINOPEC Shangai Petrochemical Company (SNP) agreeing to supply the company with 100,000 barrels/day of oil.[43]
Increased Investments from Oil & Gas Drilling & Exploration companies in Brazil's offshore oilfield have the potential of benefiting PetrobrasBoth Chevron Corporation (CVX) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS'A) have partnered with Petrobras in order to develop several of Brazilians offshore oil fields.[44] Chevron Corporation (CVX) has fields at Fade, Maromba field, and the Campos Basin. Royal Dutch Shell (RDS'A) has a 40% stake in Brazil's Santos Basin.[45] Production at these fields have the potential of benefiting Petrobras because the Brazilian oil company has a majority stake in these fields.[46] However, field developments have the potential of being halted due to tighter credit and lower oil production in the first quarter of 2009. The development of the field at Papa Terra has been delayed by high costs. Petrobras plans to finance these developments by relaunching tenders. Chevron Corporation (CVX) has the potential of increasing its investments in its Brazilian field development as well as providing subsalt development technology.[47]
Government Control has the potential of being a mixed blessing for PetrobrasAccording to an article featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Brazilian government has indicated that it has plans to greatly increase its role in managing huge deep-water oil finds off the Brazilian coast.[48] Following the actions similar to those of many governments in the Middle East, the Brazilian government proposed a strategy in which companies sign production-sharing deals that give most of the barrels to Brazil.[49] The strategy has the potential of becoming a mixed blessing for Petrobras though. The plan is a shift from Brazil's current system of competitive bidding for oil-exploration concessions. In the past, these concessions have led to higher levels of oil production. Brazil's change in offshore policy is a result of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's belief that offshore drilling is essentially no-risk because of the amount of oil located off Brazil's coast.[50] Therefore, Brazil has pushed for more state-controlled oil exploration and production in order to benefit Petrobras and Brazil. However, offshore drilling is expensive, and Petrobras has the potential of wasting part of its capital expenditures budget on developing oilfields that do not have enough oil.[51]
In September 2009, the Brazilian Mines and Energy department claimed the crude oil production has the potential of doubling 2009 levels to 3.6 million barrels/day by 2017.[52] The projection included recent subsalt oil discoveries. Developing subsalt oil fields has been an expensive operation in the past because the oil lies under more than 2,000 meters of water and a further 5,000 meters under sand, rock and a shifting layer of salt.[53] However, the subsalt regions have the potential of containing billions of barrels of oil. For example, the Tupi field is estimated to contain between 5 billion and 8 billion recoverable barrels of oil equivalent.[54] According the Mines and Energy department, domestic daily consumption has the potential of reaching 2.7 million barrels, which leaves approximately 1 million barrels/day ready for exportation.[55] Brazil plans to export these potential reserves as refined products instead of as crude-oil. As of September 2009, Petrobras is building four new refineries in order to meet this expected overflow of oil.[56] In August 2009, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva proposed changes to the Brazil's oil laws that designed to give the government a greater stake in the discoveries. Producing a daily average of 1.98 million barrels of oil during August 2009, Petrobras already accounts for 90% of domestic crude-oil production and has the potential of increasing its production significantly if President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva changes are passed.[57]
Tupi deepwater discoveryPetrobras has been successful in finding oil. The Tupi oilfield discovery, announced in November 2007, is estimated to contain 5 to 8 billion BOE , making it one of the largest discoveries of the decade. The petroleum from this oilfield, however, is beneath 2,000 to 3,000 meters of water, making it an expensive deepwater recovery process. Petrobras' success in deepwater oil exploration has lead the company to invest zealously: as of May 2008, the company had contracted 80% of the world's deepwater rigs, driving up dayrates for the sector as other companies like Exxon Mobil and BP competed for the remainder.[58]
| Date | Basin | Field | API gravity[59] |
| 4/18/06 | Espirito Santo | Golfinho | 40 |
| 6/11/06 | Santos | 1-RJS-628A | 30 |
| 3/2/07 | Campos | Caxareu | 30 |
| 3/29/07 | Santos | below the salt layer | 30 |
| 6/8/07 | Espirito Santo | Pirambu | 29 |
| 9/4/07 | Santos | Tupi | 27 |
| 9/10/07 | Campos | Xerelete | 18 |
| 9/20/07 | Santos | Tupi | 28 |
| 10/11/07 | Sergipe | Piranema | 44 |
| 1/21/08 | Santos | Jupiter |
Ethanol and other alternative energy sourcesFollowing the trend of clean energy and pressured by declining oil supply, Petrobras developed a process for production of biodiesel which allows a 40% mixture of biodiesel without changing the fuel's quality. Instead of investing heavily into production of biofuels, the company has constructed an alcohol pipeline, and bought minority stakes in various ethanol companies. The opportunity for ethanol in particular is large, as Brazil is the world's biggest ethanol producing country, single-handedly accounting for one-third of the world's output [60]. Based on infrastructure investments as of 2006-07, [biofuels]] should account for about 1% of Petrobras's income between 2008-2012.
Competition Petrobras remains the largest government owned oil company in Brazil, so it faces very little competition on its home turf. It is difficult for competitors to enter the market given the preferential treatment Petrobras has with the Brazilian government. Despite the opening up of the Brazilian oil market, Petrobras has maintained its market share.
Global Oil Industry Operational Data | Company | Reserves (MM boe) | Current Years of Production | Oil & Gas Production (1000s boe/d) 2006 | Oil & Gas Production Growth (%) 2006 |
| Petrobras | 11,458 | 14.2 | 2,287 | 4.5 |
| BP | 17,368 | 10.4 | 3,926 | -1.9 |
| ChevronTexaco | 11,020 | 10.9 | 2,667 | 6.1 |
| ExxonMobil | 21,518 | 11.3 | 4,238 | 3.8 |
| Royal Dutch Shell | 11,108 | 6.7 | 3,474 | -1.0 |
| Hess | 1,243 | 7.9 | 358 | 7.0 |
| BG Group | 2,149 | 6.2 | 601 | 19.0 |
| ConocoPhillips | 6,676 | 8.7 | 2,359 | 29.7 |
| ENI | 6,406 | 11.2 | 1,770 | 5.8 |
| Marathon | 1,262 | 7.1 | 377 | 9.0 |
| Norsk-Hydro | 1,916 | 9.3 | 573 | 2.0 |
| Petro-Canada | 1,301 | 8.4 | 345 | -3.1 |
| Repsol YPF | 2,600 | 5.2 | 1,128 | -3.0 |
| CNOOC | 503 | 3.0 | 455 | 11.7 |
| Gazprom | 144,668 | 39.7 | 9,965 | 6.0 |
| LUKOIL | 18,144 | 27.2 | 1,838 | 4.5 |
| PetroChina | 16,260 | 15.6 | 2,907 | 5.0 |
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