Spotlight: Brazil's small and medium oil companies

Brazil’s Níon Energia has requested from oil and gas watchdog ANP to be qualified as a small company. 

ANP guidelines define a small oil firm as an independent company or one belonging to a corporate group with average annualized production of less than 1,000boe/d, while medium-sized companies produce less than 10,000boe/d. 

Níon’s output in 2022 was 140boe/d. 

In December, ANP approved the transfer of Imetame Energia’s BT-POT-16, POT-T-569_R11, Iraúna, POT-T-740_OP1, POT-T-741_OP1 and BT-POT-10 concession contracts, in the Potiguar basin, to Níon. 

According to ANP, 22 small oil companies are currently operating in Brazil:

– Barra Bonita Óleo e Gás

– BGM Petróleo e Gás

– Energizzi Energias do Brasil

– EPG Brasil

– Karavan Seacrest SPE Cricaré

– Léros Petróleo e Gás

– Mandacaru Energia

– Newo Óleo e Gás

– Nord Oil and Gas

– Nova Petróleo Exploração e Produção

– Oeste de Canoas Petróleo e Gás

– Perícia Engenharia e Construção

– Petroborn Óleo e Gás

– Petroil Óleo e Gás

– Petrom Produção de Petróleo e Gás

– Petro-Victory Energia

– Phoenix Óleo e Gás Natural 

– Recôncavo Energia

– Slim Drilling Serviços de Perfuração

– Tarmar Energia

– Ubuntu Engenharia e Serviços

– Vipetro Petróleo

Another 14 firms are qualified as medium-sized oil companies: 

– 3R Areia Branca (3R Petroleum)

– 3R Macau (3R Petroleum) 

– 3R Rio Ventura (3R Petroleum) 

– Alvopetro Extração de Petróleo e Gás Natural

– Imetame Energia Lagoa Parda

– Imetame Energia

– Maha Energy Brasil

– Origem Energia Alagoas

– Origem Energia

– Petrorecôncavo

– Petrosynergy

– Potiguar E&P (PetroRecôncavo)

– Recôncavo E&P (PetroRecôncavo) 

– SPE Miranga (PetroRecôncavo) 

Benefits for small and medium-sized oil firms involve simplified production measurement rules, differentiated reference price for calculation and payment of royalties, and a reduced royalty rate.