According to local sources on 9 April 2018 an announcement from, the Trinidad and Tobago government regarding the 2018 Bid Round is expected during this week. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries planned to announced the round in late March 2018, as previously reported in early February 2018. Details have not been released. However, the blocks included in the round will be from the nominations received from interested parties during the 2017 Open Nomination Process. It is anticipated that Block NCMA 2, which drew great interest during the nomination process, will be included in the round. It is estimated that five to eight onshore and shallow blocks will be offered. The shallow marine blocks will be off the east and north coasts    NCMA 2 was reverted from Niko Resources Ltd â as the operator did not find any partners before the expiration of the license. The block is located in the hydrocarbon prolific Tobago Basin and lie on trend with Shell producing gas fields Poinsett and Hibiscus, located in the NCMA 1. The north coast marine area has significant Pliocene and Miocene play opportunities that have been defined by the acquired 3D seismic in 2012.      Â In late December 2017, the Ministry was preparing the competitive bidding order for the next bid round, with invitations during 1Q 2018. The number and geometry of the blocks were being finalized.    The blocks available for nomination were:          Onshore Blocks            Shallow Water Blocks            Northern Deepwater   Blocks            Eastern Deepwater   Blocks             Charuma   1            NCMA   2            TTDAA   24            Block   24             Charuma   2            NCMA   3            TTDAA   25            Block   25 (a)             Cory   D            NCMA   4 (a)            TTDAA   26            Block   25 (b)             Cory   E            NCMA   4 (b)            TTDAA   30            Block   26             Cruze   Horizon            NCMA   5            TTDAA   31            Block   27             Herrera   Horizon            Block   21               TTDAA   1             Guapo   Oropouche            Block   22 (a)               TTDAA   2             Brighton   Horizon            Block   22 (b)               TTDAA   4             Catshill            Block   1 (c)               TTDAA   8             Trinity            Block   1 (d)               TTDAA   9             Balata   East            South   Marine               TTDAA   10             Â             Block   2 (ab)               TTDAA   11             Â             Block   2 (d)               TTDAA   12             Â             Block   3 (b)            Â             TTDAA   13             Â             Block   4 (b)               TTDAA   15             Â             Block   4 (c)               TTDAA   16             Â             Block   U (c)               TTDAA   17             Â             Block   5 (e)               TTDAA   18             Â             Lower   Reverse L               TTDAA   19             Â                   TTDAA   20             Â                   TTDAA   21             Â                   TTDAA   22             Â                   TTDAA   23             Â                   TTDAA   27             Â             Â             Â             TTDAA   32             Â© 2017 IHS Markit                    Â   The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries received a significant number of nominations from interested parties in the Open Nomination Process for 2017 Competitive Bid Round. The process was first announced in May 2017. A total of 59 blocks were available - which 10 are onshore, 19 on shallow water and 30 on deepwater. The block nominations were accepted from 22 May thru June 30, 2017, a period of six-weeks. It is estimated that Invitation for bids for the bid round deep water blocks is expected during 2Q 2017, while land and shallow marine blocks is expected during 3Q 2017. Any questions regarding the process, can be forward to BidRound2017@energy.gov.tt   The last held bid round in the country was the 2013 Onshore Bid Round - launched on 16 May 2013, with a closing date on October 31, 2013. This was the first dedicated Onshore Bid Round to occur in Trinidad and Tobago in 15 years. Six companies made 11 bids on the three blocks on offer in the Southern Basin. The Energy Minister mentioned in preliminary comments that 17 data packages were sold to interested parties, which means that 11 companies decided not to bid after analyzing the data. Companies selected would enter into negotiations for Production Sharing Agreements.   Background Information    On 9 January 2015, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs (MEEA) signaled its intent to offer acreage in shallow, average and deep water areas within a 2015 competitive Bid Round. To that end, the MEEA sent requests for block nominations to operators for inclusion in the possible 2015 Bid Round. Nominated blocks would be held confidential and they bestowed no rights or obligations on the Ministry or the company nominating the blocks. Technical studies and a comprehensive data set over the offshore area are available. No other time lines associated with a 2015 Round were mentioned however, the MEEA was known to be contemplating having another Bid Round ahead of the next general election which is slated for May 2015 at the earliest.     The Trinidad and Tobagoâs Ministry of Energy reported in late May 2016 that had no plans to announce an offshore bid round for 2016. The current low price for a barrel of oil is the main reason. On 8 October 2015, the Minister of Energy Nicole Olivierre addressed the Energy Chamber and stated that an onshore and offshore bid rounds were a priority. More details about a possible schedule were not released.    The acting Energy and Energy Industries Minister Colm Imbert indicated during the 2017 Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference in late January 2017 plans to start an evaluation of possible blocks for offering - however no details were announced.
According to local sources on 9 April 2018 an announcement from, the Trinidad and Tobago government regarding the 2018 Bid Round is expected during this week. The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries planned to announced the round in late March 2018, as previously reported in early February 2018. Details have not been released. 