The ANP, Brazil’s oil industry regulatory agency, offered seven areas for bidding within the so-called pre-salt polygon, the country’s main oil frontier. The fields are located in the Campos and Santos basins (ANP press release, 22/10/2025).
The auction for the seven oil exploration blocks in the pre-salt region, off the southeastern coast, has concluded, with five areas successfully awarded. Out of the 15 qualified companies, eight submitted bids, and five emerged as winners. The highlights were Petrobras and Norway’s Equinor, the two biggest winners.
- Petrobras won two blocks. In the Citrino field, located in the Campos Basin, it will operate with a 100% stake. In the Jaspe field, also in the Campos Basin, Petrobras will partner with Equinor, holding a 60% stake. Equinor secured the Itaimbezinho field on its own.
- The Amethyst field, in the Santos Basin, will be developed by a consortium of two Chinese companies — CNOOC Petroleum (70%) and Sinopec (30%).
- Meanwhile, Australian oil company Karoon will be the sole operator of the Esmeralda field, also in the Santos Basin.
Two of the seven blocks offered received no bids.