At least 12 companies submitted offers for six marginal oil fields in the Amazonas region, the Minister of Nonrenewable Natural Resources Wilson Pastor said Thursday.

The fields are Armadillo, Chanangue, Charapa, Eno-Ron, Ocano-Pena Blanca and Singue.

In a press release the minister said that the offers will be opened on Monday.

Service contracts for these fields are expected to be signed later in October.

A field is considered marginal in Ecuador if production from it doesn't exceed 1% of total national production. National production is around 500,000 barrels a day.

Pastor also said that the Andean country expects in November to sign contracts for improving and recovering production at five mature Petroecuador oil fields.

Last year Petroecuador called private companies interested in service contracts to boost production at Shushufindi, Libertador, Auca, Lago Agrio and Cuyabeno, which currently produce an average of 150,000 barrels of oil a day, about 30% of Ecuador's national output.

Lago Agrio received no offers.

Production at these mature fields has been declining by up to 12% per year.

Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB), Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI), Halliburton Co. (HAL) and Ecuador's Sertecpet are among companies interested in mature fields, Pastor said.

According to Pastor, the companies will invest about $3.3 billion during the first five years.

The companies will carry the financial risk of operating the fields.

-By Mercedes Alvaro, Dow Jones Newswires; 5939-9728-653; mercedes.alvaro@dowjones.com

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