Brazilian state-owned energy giant Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (NYSE: PBR) has announced a new natural gas discovery in the deep waters off the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Located at the Sandia-1 well within Block GUA-OFF-0, this marks the company’s second gas find in Colombia in 2026, following the Copoazu-1 discovery in the same exploration area.

The Sandia-1 well is situated approximately 42 kilometers (26 miles) off the coast at a water depth of 1,251 meters. It lies 18 kilometers from the Sirius-1 (discovery) and Sirius-2 (appraisal) wells, and just 9 kilometers from the Copoazu-1 discovery well announced earlier this year.

Drilling operations for Sandia-1 commenced on June 12, 2026, and successfully reached final depth on July 29, 2026. The company stated that well log measurements and samples confirming the presence of gas are currently undergoing evaluation and will be further characterized through laboratory analysis.

The discovery occurred in a region operated by Colombia’s state-owned energy company, Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE: EC). Operations are managed through Petrobras’s subsidiary, Petrobras International Braspetro B.V. – Sucursal Colômbia (PIB-COL), which holds a 44.44% share, alongside Ecopetrol’s 55.56% stake.

Strategic Alignment and Global Expansion

Petrobras emphasized that its activities in Block GUA-OFF-0 are aligned with its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. The strategy focuses on replenishing the company’s oil and gas reserves by exploring new frontiers and forming strategic partnerships to help meet global energy demand during the broader energy transition.

This offshore presence in Colombia builds upon Petrobras’s broader domestic and international expansion efforts, which include recent discoveries in existing Brazilian blocks and newly secured exploration agreements in Africa.

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Petrobras (NYSE: PBR) Announces New Gas Discovery in Colombia

Previous Success in the Region

Today’s announcement reinforces the presence of the Brazilian firm in the region. In April, Petrobras announced the Copoazu-1 gas discovery in the same Caribbean offshore block, a find that surprised the market and underscored the immense potential of Colombian fields for Petrobras’s long-term engagement.

The Copoazu-1 well, located at a water depth of 964 meters, sits just 8 kilometers from the operational Sirius-1 and Sirius-2 wells. Its proximity—only 9 kilometers—to the newly announced Sandia-1 field highlights the continuous exploration viability and rich energy potential of Colombia’s offshore frontiers.