Electrical Fault Triggers Oil Output Deferral and Rig Intervention Plans at Karoon’s Brazilian Field

September 28, 2026 · 7 hours ago

An electrical fault has forced Karoon to throttle back a key well, slashing production outlook and putting a rig-based intervention on the table.

Just three months after installing a brand-new electrical system to boost its flagship Brazilian offshore field, Karoon Energy, an ASX-listed international oil and gas exploration and production player, is heading back to the drawing board.

After noting a fault on the monitoring system of the SPS-92 well at the Baúna field, Karoon undertook a controlled shut down of the well on September 22, 2026, to preserve pump integrity and investigate the system.

The company explains that a fault has been confirmed in one of the three electrical phases in the newly installed power cable for the downhole electrical submersible pump (ESP), following analysis and testing over the past few days.

While disclosing that the pump is now operating on two phases in a conservative manner to maintain safe and secure operations, the firm elaborates that a rig-based well intervention to replace the faulty cabling system will be required to reinstate full operability.

Karoon, which underlines that it has an existing option over a suitable drilling rig, has started intervention planning, including securing permitting, equipment, and services, but the timing is dependent on securing the permit approvals and services.

The operator estimates that approximately 3,500 barrels oil oil equivalent per day (bopd) will be deferred until the cable system is replaced. The production deferral is currently not expected to affect Baúna reserves.