By Reuters Staff

 

SAO PAULO

Petroleumworld 

 

Brazil's oil regulator ANP said on Tuesday it has authorized 11 companies to bid in auctions next month for exploration and production rights in the

presalt region off the Brazilian coast.

 

Ten of the companies cleared to participate are foreign, and

one is Brazilian, ANP said in a statement.

 

All already have oil and gas exploration and production

contracts in Brazil, except for Malaysia's Petronas Carigali SDN

BHD, the regulator said.

 

The government's second and third rounds of bidding for

presalt areas are scheduled for Oct. 27. The first round was in

2013.

 

In Brazilian petroleum parlance, the term presalt refers to

giant offshore oil deposits. They are located several kilometers

(miles) below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, making their

exploitation a costly challenge.

 

* Companies approved for the second presalt round:

 

Company / Parent Co HQ

 

ExxonMobil Exploração / Brasil Ltda United States

Petrogal Brasil SA / Portugal

Petróleo Brasileiro SA / Brazil

Repsol Sinopec Brasil SA / Spain

Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda / United Kindgom

Statoil Brasil Óleo e Gás Ltda / Norway

Total E&P do Brasil Ltda / France

Petronas Carigali SDN BHD / Malaysia

 

* Companies approved for the third presalt round:

 

Company P/arent Co HQ

 

BP Energy do Brasil Ltda / United Kingdom

CNODC Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda / China

ExxonMobil Exploração Brasil Ltda / United States

Petrogal Brasil SA / Portugal

Petróleo Brasileiro SA / Brazil

- QPI Brasil Petróleo Ltda / Qatar

Petronas Carigali SDN BHD / Malaysia

Repsol Exploración SA / Spain

Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda / United Kingdom

Statoil Brasil Óleo e Gás Ltda / Norway

Total E&P do Brasil Ltda / France