BP's announcement on Monday of its largest global oil and gas discovery in 25 years in Brazil's offshore Santos basin bodes well for Equinor's nearby interests and strong appetite for an October auction of oil blocks in the region.

BP has made its largest oil and natural gas discovery in 25 years off the coast of Brazil, it said Monday, in a potential big boost for the British company following its strategic shift away from renewable energy to refocus on fossil fuels.

BP has been under ongoing pressure from investors for underperforming compared to its rivals in recent years. In February, BP slashed its planned investments in renewable energy projects and said it would spend billions of dollars more a year on its oil and gas operations in a bid to improve investor confidence.