The Brazilian government has approved the inclusion of seven new exploration blocks to the country’s planned third pre-salt round under the permanent offer initiative that is set to take place in mid-2025.
After a timid response in late 2023 in the second pre-salt round when only a single block was awarded, the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency (ANP) started a wide revision of the auction guidelines and the areas on offer with the goal of organising the third cycle next year.
The ANP has previously said the round would feature 14 blocks in the Campos and Santos basins to be offered under production sharing contracts.
These included the Citrino, Itaimbezinho, Jaspe, Larimar, Onix and Turmalina areas in Campos, plus the Agata, Amazonita, Ametista, Esmeralda, Jade, Mogno, Safira Leste and Safira Oeste areas in Santos.
During a meeting on Tuesday, Brazil’s National Council for Energy Policy (CNPE) added seven new tracts to the planned round.
The Aragonita, Calcedonia, Cerussita, Malaquita, Opala, Quartzo and Rodocrosita areas are all located in the Santos basin.
The CNPE has also determined the round to be organised in June 2025, which according to Mines & Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira, can generate 874 million reais ($145 million) in signature bonuses.
Source: By Fabio Palmigiani from upstreamonline.com