Ecopetrol (EC) is pursuing oil and gas opportunities in Brazil that may include an onshore cluster of Petrobras (PBR) fields in Bahia, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing an interview with the head of Ecopetrol's operations in Brazil, Jorge Martinez.

Martinez reportedly said the company sees growth potential in Brazilian onshore fields, especially natural gas, and is interested in Petrobras assets if they are put up for sale or partnership.

Ecopetrol is prepared to take on exploration risk in the Potiguar and Reconcavo regions and aims to leverage its onshore expertise from Colombia, Martinez said in the interview.

Ecopetrol and Petrobras are already partners in the Sirius offshore gas discovery in Colombia, which could significantly boost reserves if developed commercially, according to Bloomberg.

Martinez also said Ecopetrol is evaluating acquisitions from other companies that purchased Petrobras' divested onshore assets and plans to participate in future licensing rounds.

Ecopetrol and Petrobras did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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