March 3 (oilprice.com) South America’s largest economy, Brazil, is on track to be a top 5 global oil producer. During 2023, Brazil received an offer to join the OPEC+ price cartel, but it took until early 2025 for the government in the capital Brasilia to accept membership. This signaled a significant change in government strategy, with... Continue Reading →
ANP Releases Consolidated Oil and Gas Production Data for January 2026
March 2 - In January 2026, Brazil produced 5.168 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) of oil and natural gas. The data was released today by the ANP in its Monthly Oil and Natural Gas Production Bulletin. Regarding oil, 3.953 million barrels per day (bbl/d) were extracted, a decrease of 1.5% compared to... Continue Reading →
Floater Backlog Showing Signs of Strengthening – Westwood
March 1 - After a softer 2025, floater backlog is strengthening for 2026 and beyond, driven by early contracting, strong South American demand, and a growing pipeline of 2027+ programs. By the close of 2025, total floating rig backlog days had fallen 25% compared with 2024. This was in large part due to few contract... Continue Reading →
OceanPact and CBO announce merger, creating maritime services giant.
February 27, 2026 — OceanPact and CBO announced today, in a Regulatory Filing, the combination of their businesses, to be implemented through the incorporation of CBO’s holding company into OceanPact. Closing of the transaction is subject to approval by the Brazilian Antitrust Regulatory Agency (CADE), as well as the fulfillment of other customary conditions precedent... Continue Reading →
The 2026 Outlook for South America’s Top 5 Oil Producers
Feb 28 (oilprice.com) Last year was an event-filled period for South America’s growing oil industry. The continent’s energy map is being rewritten by a few unexpected world-class oil booms, which makes the region a key source of non-OPEC production growth. There is also the potential for Venezuela to reemerge as a major petroleum producer after U.S.... Continue Reading →
Venezuela Halts 19 Maduro-Era Oil and Gas Contracts Pending Review
Feb. 27 (Reuters) Venezuela's oil ministry has suspended 19 oil production-sharing contracts with private companies signed under the administration of President Nicolas Maduro, four sources with knowledge of the move told Reuters on Thursday. The suspension has had no impact on the country's oil and gas output so far, the sources said. State oil giant... Continue Reading →
U.S. Department of Justice Sides With Argentina in $18 Billion YPF Lawsuit
Feb. 27 (oilprice.com) The U.S. Department of Justice is siding with Argentina in a legal case of $18 billion relating to the 2012 nationalization of Argentinian oil company YPF. In 2012, the Argentine government took control of the country’s largest oil and gas company, YPF S.A. The legal fight stems from Argentina’s 2012 expropriation of YPF shares... Continue Reading →
South America Dominates Global FPSO Market With $181 Billion Deepwater Buildout
Feb. 27 (oilprice.com) South America is set to maintain its position as the most significant region for floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels, with 36 projects awarded or expected to be awarded between 2021 and 2030, totaling field greenfield commitments worth around $181 billion. Among these 36 projects, 25 have disclosed FPSO costs ranging... Continue Reading →
Petrobras Awards Acteon Mooring Services Contract
Feb. 26 (OE) Intermoor, Acteon’s Moorings and Anchors business been awarded a new contract by Petrobras for the provision of stack-up mooring system services in Brazil. This work will support light-workover interventions and abandonment operations on installed subsea Christmas trees across both anchored and dynamically positioned mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) and well intervention vessels (WIVs).... Continue Reading →
Shell ready for bigger backstop of Brazil sugar-ethanol JV Raizen, sources say
Feb 25 (Reuters) - Oil major Shell, the healthier joint-venture partner in Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer Raizen, is ready to pour more resources into a recapitalization of the distressed company, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Raizen, a top global sugar maker, is in tough financial straits after posting a third-quarter net... Continue Reading →