RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras and Norway's Equinor ( EQNR ) were the big winners in an auction for blocks in Brazil's pre-salt area, acquiring one block each and partnering up to explore a third one, the country's oil regulator ANP made public on Wednesday.

Australia's Karoon Energy ( KRNGF ) also acquired one block, and China's CNOOC and Sinopec formed a consortium to acquire another. Two of the seven blocks put up for bids received no offers.