SAO PAULO--Brazil's oil regulator, the ANP, has qualified 38
companies so far for the oil exploration block licensing round to
be held May 14 and 15.
In a statement, the regulator said that at a meeting held on
Thursday, the ANP directors had authorized a further eight
companies, bringing the total qualified so far to 38 out of the 71
that had expressed interest in participating.
The eight latest companies registered are Petroleos de Portugal
SA, Maersk Oil do Brasil Ltda., Barra Energia do Brasil Petroleo e
Gas Ltda., Exxonmobil Quimica Ltda., Statoil Brasil Oleo e Gas
Ltda., Imetame Energia Ltda., Karoon Petroleo e Gas Ltda., and PTT
Exploration and Production Public Company Limited.
The ANP is planning to offer 289 blocks at auction, covering
155,800 square kilometers across 11 sedimentary basins. Of the
total, 166 are located offshore, including 94 in deep waters and 72
in shallow waters. The remaining 123 are onshore blocks.
On the web: http://www.brasil-rounds.gov.br/index.asp
Write to Matthew Cowley at matthew.cowley@dowjones.com