On 20 February 2020, the ANP granted formal approval for Wintershall to transfer a 30% working interest to Murphy in the POT-M-857, POT-M-863, and POT-M-865 blocks in the offshore, ultra-deep-water Potiguar Basin.    TGS concluded shooting a 3D      spec survey over the blocks and Wintershall DEA has already submitted an      environmental permit request to drill a well in the POT-M-857 block. Terms      of the deal were not disclosed.  Wintershall DEA is the operator      of the contracts with 70% working interest and Murphy holds a 30% non-operated      working interest.   On 9 October 2019, Wintershall issued a press release indicating it farmed-out a 30% working interest to Murphy in the POT-M-857, POT-M-863, and POT-M-865 blocks in the offshore, deep-water Potiguar Basin.   On 8 July 2019, the Wintershall DEA do Brasil Exploracao e Producao Ltd filed an environmental permit request with IBAMA to drill one exploration well in the POT-M-857 block in the offshore Potiguar Basin. The prospect is named Poco 1 located in the central area of the block in a water depth of 2,000 m. The prospect is speculated to be targeting the Upper Cretaceous Quebradas turbidites. There was no timeline reported to drill the well, but it is assumed the permit process will take approximately one year pushing the drilling schedule into 2020 at least.   On 7 November 2018, Wintershall with 100% working interest was granted official awards for the POT-M-857, POT-M-863, and POT-M-865 blocks in the offshore Potiguar Basin through the ANP Round 15. For the POT-M-857 block Wintershall offered a bonus of USD 17.31 million and 294 work units which won the block. There was one other bid for the block by the consortium of Petrobras, Petrogal, and Shell who bid USD 4.37 million bonus and 264 work units. For the POT-M-863 block Wintershall offered a bonus of USD 7.42 million and 265 work units which won the block. There was one other bid for the block by the consortium of Petrobras, and Shell who bid USD 3.29 million bonus and 250 work units. For the POT-M-865 block Wintershall offered a bonus of USD 4.95 million and 218 work units which won the block. There was one other bid for the block by the consortium of Petrobras, and Shell who bid USD 4.38 million bonus and 176 work units.
WintershallDea (->70% op.) transfered a 30% working interest to Murphy in the POT-M-857, POT-M-863, and POT-M-865 blocks in the ultra-deep-water offshore.