Pre-salt fields, responsible for 79.8% of total oil and natural gas produced in Brazil, can gain the reinforcement of three exploratory blocks, classified as “high potential”. Geoeconomic studies that suggest these new points of production were approved last week by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).
The three exploratory blocks – Calcita, Dolomita and Azurita – are located in the Campos Basin, Southeast Coast. The research is part of the Calcita project of the ANP, a regulatory body of the oil industry in the country and linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
Together, Calcita, Dolomita and Azurita add up to 6,200 square kilometers (km²). Studies indicate the existence of technical and economic conditions favorable to the development of large projects in the region.
The results of the studies and the coordinates of the defined blocks will be sent to the MME, which holds the prerogative of disseminating the geographical location and proposing inclusion in the regime of sharing to the National Council of Energy Policy (CNPE).
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The CNPE is an advisory body for the Presidency of the Republic formed by representatives of various ministries. The sharing regime is the way in which areas of oil exploration are bid to the private initiative, created after the discovery of the pre-salt and that provides that a part of the production belongs to the Union.
In order for the three new fields to be offered at auctions, it is also necessary to manifest the MME and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA).
“The initiative reaffirms ANP’s commitment to the strategic appreciation of Brazilian pre-salt resources, contributing to the increase of regulatory predictability and the strengthening of competition in the oil and gas sector,” the regulatory agency reported in a statement.
ANP informed the Brazil agency That if the three blocks are included in an auction and bid by a company, it is not certain that they will become oil and gas producing fields. “This will depend on further studies to be done by companies, which will decide whether or not to start production.”
The agency adds that “it is also not possible to inform how long it would take” for the wells to start producing oil.
If these areas reach the production stage, the law determines the payment by oil companies of governmental appearances, such as royalties, to be destined to the Union, states and municipalities.
Oil tanker
By commenting on the projection of new blocks at the request of the Brazil agencythe Institute of Strategic Studies of Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels (Ineep), created by the Single Federation of Oil (FUP), points out that even almost two decades after pre-salt discovery, “the region continues to reveal an energy potential of paramount importance, consolidating its position as a strategic element for the development of Brazil”.
Based on ANP data, Ineep points out that, From 2015 to 2024, 36 pre-salt exploratory wells, 29 resulted in discovery notifications.
Therefore, FUP’s general coordinator, Deyvid Bacelar, emphasizes the importance of Petrobras to maintain the right of preference in the exploration of the new areas. He criticizes the Bill (PL) 3.178/2019which is being processed in the Senate, which proposes to remove from the Brazilian state the right of preference, making other oil companies have a greater chance of finishing blocks in auctions.
“It is a serious damage to both strategic and economic for the nation,” says Bacelar.
The PL was approved by the Senate Infrastructure Commission and went to the Economic Affairs Commission (CAE). The main change is the revocation of the article of Law 12.351 of 2010, which guarantees Petrobras the right of preference with 30% participation in the consortia and the prerogative of operating the bid blocks, even without presenting the best offer.
PL advocates argue that the change in law will allow greater competition for bid areas. If you go through the Senate, the matter will need to be approved by the House of Representatives before going to the presidential sanction.
BACELAR, from FUP, also criticizes the PL proposal to allow pre-salt areas to be bid in the concession model.
“It is essential that exploration and production contracts in these areas, as well as in others of the same polygon [do pré-sal]be signed under the sharing regime, ”he argues.
THE Brazil agency He also asked the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum and Gas (IBP) – which represents companies in the sector – comments on the new blocks, but received no response.
Sharing X Concession
The discovery of the pre-salt was so significant to the potential for Brazilian oil production that it led the government to change the regime that authorized companies to explore submerged wealth.
Thus, in the pre-salt areas the sharing regime prevails. In this model, the production of surplus oil (balance after payment of costs) is divided between the company and the Union. When the auction is performed that authorizes to seek and produce oil in an area, it overcomes the right to explore the company that offers the largest installment of profit to the Union.
This rule is different from the concession model, valid in other oil and gas blocks. In the traditional model, the risk of investing and finding – or not – oil is the dealership, which becomes the owner of all the oil and gas that may be discovered. On the other hand, in addition to the signing bonus when they finish the auction, the oil company paid royalties and special participation (in the case of fields of large production).
Along with the sharing model, a state-owned company, the pre-salt oil (PPSA), based in Rio de Janeiro and linked to the MME, which represents the union in receipt of revenues. That is, the PPSA sells the oil delivered by the oil companies to the Union.
