Statoil awarded 6 licences offshore Brazil
Statoil was the highest bidder on 6 licenses in the 11th Round, the first licensing round in Brazil since December 2008. With the new licenses, Statoil has strengthened its position in the Espirito Santo basin, the Company's news release said.
The award in Brazil's 11th licencing round reflects Statoil's extensive application and ambition of long-term growth in Brazil. Out of the 6 licences awarded in Espirito Santo, Statoil is the operator for four and partner in two of the licences.
"The award of the blocks in the Espirito Santo Basin is in line with Statoil's exploration strategy to build on core positions in prolific and proven basins", Tim Dodson, executive vice president for Exploration in Statoil said.
Statoil's application for exploration licenses in the basin is based on established and new geological play models.
In December 2012 Statoil acquired 25% participating interest from Vale SA in BM-ES-22A in the Espirito Santo Basin. Petrobras is the operator with 75 %.
The farm-in is pending ANP approval. BM-ES-22A is adjacent to the BM-ES-32 license where Statoil is partner and which holds the Indra discovery.
Statoil operates the Peregrino field in Brazil, which came on stream in April 2011, and Statoil is currently the largest international operator in the country. Statoil is also operator of some of the world's largest oil and gas discoveries over the last couple of years and has a strong safety and environmental record.
The 11th bidding round on 14 and 15 May was conducted by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel (ANP). The concession agreements from the 11th licencing round are scheduled to be signed in August 2013.
