In addition to the refinery, the Chinese also manage to acquire 20% of the exploration in some oil fields in the Campos Basin

Petrobras closes a new agreement with the Chinese CNODC (a subsidiary of CNPC) and now, in addition to completing the Comperj works, it will have 20% of the venture's operations and Petrobras 80% through a joint venture. The previous agreement was only for the completion of the UPGN (Gas Processing Unit) and according to Petrobras' advisory, by 2019 around 1300 direct jobs will be created.

But this partnership goes beyond refining activities. Petrobras will generate another joint venture with the Orientals in the offshore exploration and production modality, specifically in the Campos Basin, where CNODC managed to operate 4 fields: Marlim, Voador, Marlim Sul and Marlim Leste, in all of these the share will also be 20%.

“The heavy oil produced in the Marlim cluster has characteristics suitable for the Comperj refinery, designed to process this type of oil, with high conversion. This is an important step in the development of the strategic partnership between the companies. Its effective implementation will depend on the conclusion of the feasibility studies and, consequently, on the investment decision by the parties in Comperj, as well as on the success of the negotiations for the final agreements”, emphasizes the state-owned company in a press release.

It turns out that CNPC has expertise and could have a good performance in revitalizing these fields, leaving Petrobras to focus on the pre-salt. It is worth mentioning that Petrobras also closed with the oil company Murphy for exploration and production in assets in the Gulf of Mexico last week, check the article here for more details, gradually returning to increase its portfolio of services beyond and from Brazil.