Six of eight blocks on offer were awarded in the latest two rounds of Brazil’s offshore oil and gas rights auctions, it was revealed on Monday.
Anglo-Dutch giant Shell – along with its production partners – emerged as the big winner with three blocks from the auction, which was held on October 27.
These were the second and third rounds of presalt auctions. As production-sharing contract rounds, these auctions were not about direct bidding for assets but more about the government [profit-shar rates each consortium was offering.
A total of $31bn in investment was confirmed for development of the six blocks. And $1.9bn was generated in signature bonuses.
Other successful majors at the auctions were Norway’s Statoil and Brazil’s state oil firm Petrobras, which under law has the first option to act as operator in any of the presalt blocks.