Resolution No. 22/2017 of the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) authorized the ANP to hold the 15th Round of Bids for exploration and production of oil and natural gas.

The ANP announced (7/12) the pre-announcement and draft of the concession contract for the 15th Round of Bids for Exploratory Blocks (Maritime Basins and Terrestrial Basins). The documents are available at http://www.brasil-rounds.gov.br/Round_15/portugues_R15/pre_edital.asp

The pre-announcement and the draft of the concession contract will be subject to public consultation and hearing for the receipt of comments and suggestions. The public consultation period ends on 12/18/17 and the public hearing will be held on 12/21/17.

The purpose of the consultation and hearing is to obtain subsidies and information on the pre-announcement and draft concession agreement, to provide economic agents and other interested parties with the opportunity to submit comments and suggestions, to identify, as broadly as possible, all matters relevant to the subject matter of the public hearing, in addition to publicizing, transparency and legitimacy to ANP's actions.

The pre-edital brings the areas on offer, the rules and procedures for participation and the preliminary schedule of the round. The draft of the concession contract is part of the pre-bid.

The 15th Round of Bids for Exploratory Blocks in Maritime Basins will offer 49 blocks, distributed in seven sedimentary basins - Ceará, Potiguar, Sergipe-Alagoas, Campos and Santos - with areas of high potential and new exploratory frontiers that present themselves as opportunities for large and medium-sized enterprises.

The 15th Round of Bids for Exploratory Blocks in Land Basins will offer 21 blocks, distributed in two sedimentary basins - Parnaíba and Paraná -, with areas of new exploratory frontiers that present themselves as opportunities for large, medium and small companies.

The blocks offered were selected in basins of high potential and new exploratory frontiers with the objectives of expanding reserves and Brazilian oil and natural gas production, expanding knowledge of sedimentary basins, decentralizing exploratory investment in the country, developing the oil industry and to establish national and foreign companies in the country, continuing the demand for local goods and services, the generation of jobs and the distribution of income.