Brazil ANP: So Far, 38 Companies Qualified for Oil Exploration License Round

SAO PAULO--Brazil's oil regulator, the ANP, has qualified 38 companies so far for the oil exploration block licensing round to be held May 14 and 15.

In a statement, the regulator said that at a meeting held on Thursday, the ANP directors had authorized a further eight companies, bringing the total qualified so far to 38 out of the 71 that had expressed interest in participating.

The eight latest companies registered are Petroleos de Portugal SA, Maersk Oil do Brasil Ltda., Barra Energia do Brasil Petroleo e Gas Ltda., Exxonmobil Quimica Ltda., Statoil Brasil Oleo e Gas Ltda., Imetame Energia Ltda., Karoon Petroleo e Gas Ltda., and PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited.

The ANP is planning to offer 289 blocks at auction, covering 155,800 square kilometers across 11 sedimentary basins. Of the total, 166 are located offshore, including 94 in deep waters and 72 in shallow waters. The remaining 123 are onshore blocks.

On the web: http://www.brasil-rounds.gov.br/index.asp

Write to Matthew Cowley at [e-mail]