PRODUCTION SHARING: OPTION FOR THE PERMANENT OFFER

(PetroleoHoje) Brazil has great chances of not holding any numbered rounds in 2022, but only permanent offers. The issue, which has been analyzed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, concerns not only the 18th round, scheduled for 2022, but also the sharing auctions. The information was confirmed by government sources, anticipating that the assessment also extends to 2023.

In the case of production-sharing areas, inclusion in the permanent offer would require deliberation by the CNPE and the carrying out of specific rounds aimed only at this type of block. The ANP Board of Directors should consider the recommendation of the suggested areas for the 18th round, indicating the offer of assets in the Ceará, Pelotas and Espirito Santo ultra-deep waters (outside the polygon) basins. in addition to the 8th sharing round blocks.

The trend, according to senior government sources, is that the concession and sharing areas make up the permanent offer. The study of the areas carried out by the ANP complies with the decision previously requested by the CNPE.

The technical understanding of the agency, according to a survey by PetroleoHoje, is that the areas suggested for auction, both under the concession and production sharing regime, should make up the permanent offer. If the new model is effectively approved by the government, it is expected that the Union will be able to carry out two to three rounds of permanent offers per year.

The proposal under study for the first permanent sharing offer would include areas already offered without success in previous rounds and new blocks. The government planned to make available in the 7th round the areas of Agua Marinha, in the Campos Basin, Esmeralda and Agata, in Santos. For the 8th round, the original plan included the Turmalina blocks, in Campos, Jade, Tupinamba and Ametista, in Santos.

The two sharing rounds were originally scheduled to be held in 2020 and 2021. In light of the oil crisis, however, the schedule was put on hold.

The idea of ​​expanding the permanent offer regime gained momentum within the government after the result of the 17th round, in October. Of the 92 blocks offered at the time at the auction, only five were sold.