Brazilian 10th Licensing Round

Map:  Showing blocks on offer in the Brazil 10^th Licensing Round (red shading).       Source: Petroview^®

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The government has decided to hold off on awarding any offshore blocks until it decides whether to change the regulatory framework in light of the Santos discoveries.

Of the 130 blocks to be awarded, 100 are in mature basins (35 in Potiguar, 21 in Reconcavo and 44 in Sergipe-Alagoas).  The three basins represent roughly 10% of currently Brazilian production.

The ANP expects to attract the small players by offering low-risk mature blocks, whereas some of the larger properties consist of unexplored frontier land that could be tempting to bigger players.  On the other hand, the natural gas is attractive to major companies, which could be interested in the potential in the northern Amazonas basin blocks.

Of the 162 exploratory blocks originally offered on 18 September 2008, 32 blocks were withdrawn from the auction.  28 blocks located in the Araripe and Pernambuco-Paraiba basins were removed due to environmental restrictions and from Paraná basin four blocks were withdrawn because they are located less than 150 kilometres from the country's border.

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After paying the participation fee, companies will receive a set of data packages which will contain technical information, such as seismic section profiles, wells, composite logs.  The packages will also include geological summaries describing each basin’s features and their potential for exploration, as well as, where possible, magnetometric and gravimetric data.

Under the indicative schedule, companies interested in participating in the 10^th Round must submit all documents required for qualification by 14 November 2008, and participation fees and warranties by 15 December 2008.  The tender protocol, data package and further details can be obtained from: www.brasil-rounds.gov.br/index_e.asp

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