The Open Acreage is encouraged
The Brazilian National Council of Energy Policy (CNPE) and the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) published several Resolutions encouraging bidding rounds under the Open Acreage format.
On December 24th, 2021, CNPE published its Resolution nº 27/2021, which authorized ANP to define and include in the Open Acreage, under the concession regime, any onshore and offshore block, as well as relinquished fields or those in the process of being relinquished. Yet, blocks and fields located in the pre-salt polygon or in key strategic areas are excluded from ANP’s authorization, unless specifically determined by CNPE, that will define the parameters applicable to each field or block.
Also, CNPE Resolution nº 27/2021 revoked previous Resolutions nº 10/2018, nº 03/2020, and nº 07/2020, that addressed multiannual bidding round calendar, among other matters. Blocks that would be offered in the 18th bidding round under the concession regime, scheduled for 2022, will now be included under the Open Acreage.
Following the provisions set in Resolution nº 27/2021, CNPE published the Resolution nº 26/2021, authorizing ANP to include 11 pre-salt blocks in the Open Acreage, under the production-sharing regime and approving the corresponding technical and economic criteria.
Finally, on January 18th, 2022, ANP published its Resolution nº 861/2022, amending the ANP Resolution nº 837/2021, which regulates the nomination of areas by legal entities of the Oil & Gas industry. The new Resolution allows foreign companies to participate in the nomination process. According to the new Resolution, any legal entity of the Oil & Gas industry - without distinction of constitution under Brazilian or foreign law - may nominate an area of interest, as to better direct ANP technical studies and the possibility of offering it in a future bidding round.
The Oil, Gas & Offshore team is available in case of doubts.