Petrobras, Petronect, OFS Portal Sign Electronic Data Agreements

OFS Portal, LLC, Petrobras and its eCommerce marketplace Petronect have signed agreements that will govern many key aspects of eCommerce between the two Brazilian companies and OFS Portal members. Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro SA), a public company, is the national oil company of Brazil and is internationally acknowledged as one of the 15 largest oil companies in the world. Petronect makes possible electronic businesses between Petrobras and its suppliers through more efficient processes for the purchase and sale of products and services.

Headquartered in Houston, OFS Portal is a member-based group of energy suppliers and service providers who deliver electronic data in standardized format to industry buyers. OFS Portal's community includes more than 20 of the largest upstream oil and gas companies and the electronic networks each has selected to handle its data.

"Through these agreements the members of OFS Portal are able to easily access bids and promote eCommerce with Petrobras in Latin America and the world," said Luis Fernando Mendonca, president of Petronect. "We welcome our association with OFS Portal and its commitment to open and non-proprietary standards, which provides to all OFS Portal members a common source of access to Petrobras. This has proved helpful in the mission to reduce costs and accelerate eCommerce."

The agreements make it easy for Petronect to access digital content from key global service companies. OFS Portal's use of API/PIDX industry standards provides for an efficient exchange of digital content and transaction documents between Petronect and the global OFS Portal suppliers.

"OFS Portal welcomes Petrobras and Petronect into our community of buyers," said OFS Portal CEO William Le Sage. "We are continually expanding our global network of buyers and suppliers by providing industry-leading initiatives to maintain and enhance secure and standardized eCommerce processes. Our utilization of API's Petroleum Industry Data Exchange (PIDX) standards is a cornerstone in our goal to reduce costs and friction in the implementation of eCommerce in the upstream oil and gas industry."

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Petrobras is an integrated company operating in exploration, production, refining, trading and transportation of petroleum and its by-products, at home and abroad. As an energy company, it takes seriously its social responsibility and is deeply concerned with environmental preservation. It is a company whose past achievements are well recognized by numerous awards and the international community. Petrobras leads the industry in the development of advanced deepwater and ultra-deep water technology for oil production. The company has 93 production platforms, 10 refineries, nearly 10,000 miles of pipeline and 7,000 service stations.

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Petronect (http://www.petronect.com.br) was created by e-Petro, a subsidiary of Petrobras, in partnership with Accenture and SAP in October 2002.

Following the business-oriented direction of Petrobras, Petronect was created to develop and implement the most modern systems of management and processes for commercial transactions online, increasing the competitiveness and profitability of the company. Focused on e-Business solutions for the energy industry, Petronect has developed a digital platform to optimize transactions between companies, introducing more efficient processes for the purchase and sale of products and services.

The services offered by Petronect include requests for quotations and delivery of purchase orders among others functionalities. Integrated platforms guarantee the standardization of processes and constant results on the part of the trading partners.

Headquartered in Houston, OFS Portal, LLC (https://www.ofs-portal.com) is a member-based group of industry-leading global upstream oil and gas suppliers and service providers whose objective is to be at the forefront of global eCommerce processes in the oilfield. OFS Portal delivers cost-effective ways to make eCommerce a reality for both buyers and sellers and works with global standards organizations to converge or develop open and non-proprietary eCommerce standards for use in the upstream oil and gas industry.

Electronic data is provided in standard format at no cost to OFS Portal members' customers. OFS Portal operates with a non-profit objective. Success is measured by the members' ability to reduce costs, increase internal efficiencies and optimize customer service through accelerated adoption of ecommerce. OFS Portal's members include: Baker Hughes, BJ Services, Cooper Cameron, FMC Technologies, Greene, Tweed & Co., Halliburton, M-I SWACO, Schlumberger Oilfield Services, Smith International, Trican Well Services, Vetco International Ltd. and Weatherford International. Membership is open to all oilfield suppliers with activities in the upstream oil and gas sector.