Brazil’s ANP awards 5 offshore presalt blocks in latest auction

Awards for Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels 3rd Cycle bidding round for pre-salt blocks were Petrobras, Equinor, Karoon Energy, and a consortium of CNOOC and Sinopec.

Oct. 23, 2025

3rd cycle of the Open Acreage of Production Sharing map, offshore Brazil. — Five companies, including Petrobras and Equinor, came away with blocks following a recent bid round for blocks offshore Brazil.

Five companies, including Petrobras and Equinor, came away with blocks following a recent bid round for blocks offshore Brazil.

Awards for Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) 3rd Cycle bidding round for pre-salt blocks were Petrobras, Equinor, Karoon Energy, and a consortium of CNOOC and Sinopec.

The cycle had seven pre-salt blocks for sale: Esmeralda and Ametista in the Santos basin; and Citrino, Itaimbezinho, Ônix, Larimar, and Jaspe in Campos basin. Fifteen companies were eligible to submit bids: Petrobras, 3R Petroleum, BP Energy, Chevron, CNOOC, Ecopetrol, Equinor, Karoon, Petrogal, Petronas, Prio, QatarEnergy, Shell, Sinopec, and TotalEnergies.

Two of the seven blocks up for bids received no offers, Reuters reported Oct. 22, noting ANP received offers from only eight of 15 eligible companies.

Petrobras acquired the Jaspe block in partnership with Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda. Petrobras will serve as operator with a 60% stake, with Equinor holding the remaining 40%.

Petrobras also acquired the Citrino block with 100% interest.

Equinor was awarded the Itaimbezinho block with a 100% stake.

Karoon was awarded 100% interest in the Esmeralda block.

A consortium of CNOOC and Sinopec was awarded the Ametista block. CNOOC will serve as operator with 70% interest.