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The CNPE Studies the Inclusion of Three New Blocks in the Pre-Salt of the Campos Basin, While the ANP Organizes an Auction in October with Areas of High Economic and Technical Potential.
The National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) returns to the spotlight. On October 1st, the council is expected to analyze the proposal to include three new blocks in the sharing regime of the pre-salt of the Campos Basin. The areas, named Calcite, Dolomite, and Azurite, have already had their geoeconomic studies approved by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).
This measure represents another step in the strategy to expand the supply of exploratory areas within the pre-salt polygon, considered one of the largest energy assets on the planet.
Geoeconomic Studies and Environmental Obstacles
According to the ANP, the analysis of these blocks confirms the high technical and economic potential for the exploration of large projects. Together, the three areas total 6,200 km². However, effective inclusion still depends on joint manifestations from the Ministries of Mines and Energy (MME) and the Environment (MMA).
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This requirement exists because Brazil has not yet fully implemented the so-called Sedimentary Area Environmental Assessments (AAAS). Created over a decade ago, the mechanism was meant to guide exploration in new regions, but to this day only two assessments have been initiated — in the Solimões and Jacuípe basins — without a completion forecast.
With this new round of studies, the ANP reaches approximately 68% of the sedimentary area of the pre-salt polygon already analyzed.
While discussing the new blocks, the ANP is preparing for an auction already scheduled: on October 22nd, seven areas of the pre-salt will be available under the sharing regime. They are: Jasper, Citrine, Larimar, Onyx, Itaimbezinho, Amethyst, and Emerald.
The signing bonus totals R$ 116 million, and the minimum percentages of oil allocated to the Union vary between 6.41% (Amethyst) and 16.72% (Jasper). Unlike other modalities, in this type of auction the bonus is fixed, and the competition occurs based on the amount of oil offered to the Union’s revenues.
Permanent Offer and Participation of Oil Companies
In addition to the seven blocks going to auction in October, the permanent offer maintains 13 areas available in the pre-salt polygon. However, six of them — Agate, Amazonite, Jade, East Sapphire, West Sapphire, and Tourmaline — have not received expressions of interest from registered companies.
According to the ANP, 15 companies are qualified to participate. Among them, three newcomers: Brava, Karoon, and Prio. Major international players are also confirmed, such as BP Energy, Chevron, CNOOC, Ecopetrol, Equinor, Petrogal, Petrobras, Petronas, Qatar Energy, Shell, Sinopec, and TotalEnergies.
The ANP’s agenda is not limited to the pre-salt. In September, the agency’s directors approved the update of the permanent concession offer, now with 275 new blocks in different sedimentary basins, such as Campos, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Santos, Recôncavo, Parnaíba, and Potiguar. For the first time, the Tacutu Basin was also included.
The updated notice will go through a public hearing on October 9th. In the Amazon region, a new terrestrial block was approved for analysis. In practice, this means that interested companies can formally request the inclusion of these areas in the next bidding cycle to the ANP.
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