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ANP Auctions Seven Oil Blocks in the Pre-Salt with Participation from Petrobras and 14 Multinationals. Sector Bets on High Revenue and Energy Transition.
The Brazilian government is holding, this Wednesday (22), another important oil auction in the pre-salt polygon. Conducted by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), the bidding involves 15 national and foreign companies, including Petrobras, interested in expanding their operations in the country’s largest oil reserves.
The public session is part of the 3rd Cycle of the Permanent Production Sharing Offer (OPP) and takes place at the ANP headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, starting at 10 AM. The initiative is part of the national energy policy aimed at balancing competitiveness, energy security, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Strategic Blocks and High Competition for the Pre-Salt
In this edition, the ANP made 13 blocks available, but market interest focused on seven areas located in the Santos and Campos basins, regions known for their geological and productive relevance.
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The blocks in dispute are:
- Santos Basin: Esmeralda and Ametista
- Campos Basin: Citrine, Itaimbezinho, Onyx, Larimar, and Jasper
Petrobras has already exercised its preferential right to operate 40% of the Jasper block, as provided by Law 12.351/2010 and Federal Decree 9.041/2017, reinforcing its role in pre-salt operations.
Major Global Companies Participate in the Auction
Among the qualified companies, there are three Brazilian ones — Petrobras, Prio, and Brava Energia (formerly 3R Petroleum) — and 12 multinationals representing global energy powers.
The foreign companies include BP (UK), Chevron (USA), Ecopetrol (Colombia), Equinor (Norway), Karoon (Australia), Petrogal (Portugal), Petronas (Malaysia), QatarEnergy (Qatar), Shell (UK/Netherlands), TotalEnergies (France), and the Chinese companies Sinopec and CNOOC.
Before participating, each company must present financial and technical guarantees to the ANP, demonstrating operational capacity and commitment to the required investments.
Sharing Model Ensures Return to the Union
The auction follows the production sharing model, where the winner is not defined by the highest financial bid, but by the largest share of excess oil offered to the Union.
This excess represents the net profit from production after costs and guarantees a continuous revenue stream to the State, along with taxes, royalties, and special payments.
According to the ANP, this system is more advantageous for the country in high-potential areas, such as the pre-salt, as it ensures a significant portion of the profits for the Brazilian government.
The management of the Union’s interests is carried out by Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. (PPSA), a state-owned company linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME). The PPSA is also responsible for auctioning the oil that belongs to the Union.
In June 2025, the PPSA sold 74.5 million barrels of oil, generating about R$ 28 billion in revenue — one of the largest in the recent history of the sector.
Permanent Offer Increases Competitiveness and Predictability
The Permanent Offer (OP) is currently the main mechanism for bidding areas for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in Brazil. Unlike traditional rounds, this model allows blocks to remain continuously available, enabling companies to study technical data and decide the best time to submit their proposals.
According to the ANP, this flexibility enhances the attractiveness and predictability of the business environment, making Brazil a more competitive destination on the global stage.
“This flexibility has made the Permanent Offer an essential tool for fostering competitiveness and attractiveness in the sector in Brazil,” says the ANP.
Additionally, the modality accelerates the utilization of areas already offered in previous auctions, contributing to a more efficient use of the national energy potential.
Energy Transition: Focus on Lower Carbon Footprint
Although oil remains an essential fossil resource in the energy matrix, the ANP emphasizes that the OPPs are aligned with the energy transition policy. The agency highlights three main areas of action:
- Low Carbon Footprint in the Pre-Salt: Production in the pre-salt reserves has lower emissions than the global average, due to high productivity and CO₂ capture and reinjection technology.
- Reduction of Operational Emissions: Contracts established by the ANP require concrete measures to reduce carbon intensity in exploration and production activities.
- Investment in Innovation: Contractual clauses require companies to invest in research and development, with an increasing focus on renewable energy and decarbonization projects.
These actions reinforce the role of the ANP and MME in promoting a more sustainable oil sector aligned with global emission reduction goals.
Equatorial Margin Gains Spotlight in the New Exploratory Cycle
The new auction occurs two days after Petrobras received a license from Ibama to begin drilling in the sedimentary basin of the Amazonas Mouth, in the Equatorial Margin. The region, located in the north of the country, is pointed out as the “new pre-salt,” due to its high potential for light oil and low sulfur content.
The block FZA-M-059, originally auctioned by the British BP in 2013, will be the first to be drilled under the new environmental authorization.
The Equatorial Margin has gained prominence in the last rounds of the ANP. In the 5th Cycle of the Permanent Concession Offer (OPC), held in June, 34 blocks were auctioned, with 19 located in this region, demonstrating the growing interest of international companies in new exploratory frontiers.
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