Brazil's EAS leads in Petrobras' rigs tender

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EAS bids $4.65 billion for seven drilling rigs

• Petrobras plans to hire up to 28 rigs  
• Firms have five days to file appeals

SAO PAULO, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Brazilian shipyard Estaleiro Atlantico Sul (EAS) submitted the lowest bid in a tender for the building of seven drilling rigs for Petrobras (PETR4.SA), the Brazilian state-run oil company said on Friday.

EAS, a consortium formed by South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries (010140.KS) and local construction giants Queiroz Galvao and Camargo Correa, presented a $4.65 billion bid on Thursday beating out six other groups.

Companies that also presented bids included Brazilian consortium Alusa Galvao, who offered $4.679 billion, and overseas giants such as Singapore's Sembcorp Marine (SCMN.SI) and Keppel Corp (KPLM.SI).

Petrobras plans to hire a total of up to 28 new drilling rigs to be built in Brazil to explore oil reserves in deep waters, including the subsalt. According to initial plans, the rigs were expected to be delivered between 2013 and 2018.
Petrobras will allow five days for companies to file appeals before making a final announcement on the winner for the massive order.