07.06.201816:12:00UTC+00BRAZIL: Fourth Round Of Pre-salt Auction Launched

Brazil's National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP) has started the 4th round of auctions of fields in the pre-salt layer, which will offer the Itaimbezinho, Tres Marias, Dois Irmios and Uirapuru areas in the basins of Campos and Santos. The government expects to raise R$ 3.2 billion with the areas.

For this round, 16 companies are eligible to take part in the event: BP Energy, Chevron Brazil, CNODC Brazil, CNOOC Petroleum, DEA Deutsche Erdoel, Ecopetrol, ExxonMobil, Petrogal, Petrobras, Petronas, QPI Brasil Petroleo, Queiroz Galv?o, Repsol, Shell Brazil, Statoil Brazil, and Total E&P.

The Saturn area, originally planned for the bidding, was withdrawn by the regulatory agency following the request of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).

The area should be included in the 5th round, scheduled for September 28, which will offer the areas of Saturn, Titan, Pau-Brasil, and Southwest of Tartaruga Verde, located in the Campos and Santos basins, within the pre-salt polygon and in a strategic area.

The regulator also informed that for this round, the amounts related to the financial guarantee of the Minimum Exploration Program for the areas on offer were adequate, and the rules for the reopening of unbundled blocks included in the calls for the second and third rounds of auction.