
Japan-based Mitsui has signed an agreement with Petrobras for partial acquisition of shares in the latter's natural gas distribution unit Petrobras Gás (Gaspetro) for about R$1.9bn ($489m).

Petrobras announced a further hydrocarbon discovery at the giant pre-salt Libra field in the Santos basin, offshore Brazil. The company said that well 3-BRSA-1310-RJS, in the central portion of the block, identified the presence of hydrocarbons in a low-porosity reservoir. This is the fourth well drilled in the Libra area since exploratory drilling began last August.

Brazil's state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA will raise $2 billion through a 10-year leasing contract with China's Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Leasing, the Brazilian company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Petrobras struggling with the biggest debt load among global oil firms, on Monday cut $11 billion from capital spending plans for this year and next as Brazil's currency and oil prices slump. Petrobras plans to cut 2015 investment by 11% to $25 billion from the previous $28 billion, according to a statement.

The Chairman at Petrobras, Murilo Ferreira, has taken a leave of absence from his position till November 30. It is speculated that he wants to give his entire attention towards his role as Vale SA’s CEO.

MODEC Inc. announced on Thursday that its FPSO 'Cidade de Itaguai MV26', operating in the Iracema Norte area of Lula field, in the Pre-Salt layer of Santos Basin offshore Brazil, has achieved First Oil production on July 31, 2015, five months ahead of the schedule anticipated under the contract.

Brazil's largest oil workers' union advised Petrobras that it plans to begin an open-ended strike against the state-run oil company starting at midnight (0300 GMT) on Friday. The strike is in protest at a recent cut of about 40% in investments by Petrobras and the planned sale of about $15.1 billion of assets, the union, known as FUP, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Brazil's Petrobras announced late Monday that it would raise the wholesale price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 15% effective Tuesday, the first price adjustment for the essential cooking gas in 13 years. The move is part of efforts by Petrobras to reduce losses on fuel sales, a company Petrobras source said.

Camargo Correa Construcoes e Participacoes, one of Brazil's largest construction companies, has admitted its role in a massive scheme to overcharge state-controlled oil company Petrobras and agreed to cooperate in the investigation as part of a leniency deal, anti-trust agency Cade said Wednesday.

Brazilian state-led oil company Petrobras said its second-quarter net income plunged 89% after a one-time charge for underperforming assets that caught analysts off guard. The 1.28-billion-real charge was taken as Petrobras' new executives and board of directors try to control the company's $132 billion debt, the oil-industry's largest, by preparing up to $15bn of assets for sale by the end of 2016.