By Marta Nogueira
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-controlled
oil company Petrobras received only one proposal,
from Holland's SBM Offshore, in a bid to contract
construction of the Mero 4 oil platform in the Santos Basin
pre-salt, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Petrobras' business plan foresees Mero 4 entering operation
in 2025 with a capacity to produce 180,000 barrels of oil a day.
Petrobras and SBM declined to comment.
One of the sources commented that it is the "first time in a
long time that Petrobras has received only one proposal" in a
bid, a sign that the platform chartering market may no longer
have as much room to absorb new demands.
In January, Petrobras held the first bid for the contracting
of its own platforms in more than seven years, while seeking to
diversify its suppliers of production units.
On that occasion, the company received three proposals from
consortia led by Keppel Corporation Ltd, Samsung Heavy
Industries Co Ltd and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine
Engineering Co Ltd, for the construction of the P-78
and P-79 platforms.
According to previous information provided by Petrobras, the
Mero field is the third largest in the pre-salt layer and is
located in the Libra area, the first to be auctioned in Brazil
under production sharing in 2013.
This year, Mero will receive its first definitive production
platform, according to the business plan.
The area is operated by Petrobras, with a 40% stake, in
partnership with oil majors Royal Dutch Shell and Total
each with a 20% stake, and 10% each held by Chinese
companies CNODC and CNOOC.
(Reporting by Marta Nogueira
Editing by Marguerita Choy)
