About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law (ISSN 2317-5583) is a scientific journal published every year by the Center for Advanced Studies and Research in the Oil and Gas Law (CEDPETRO) of the Rio de Janeiro State University. The purpose of the journal is to disseminate researches, studies and experiences in the oil and gas field, leading a path for more comprehensive approaches in the field of the Energy Law.

Being closely related to the Postgraduate Program in International Law of the Law School of Rio de Janeiro State University, the Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law also publishes articles on International Law, Administrative Law, Environmental Law and Comparative Law issues related to the oil, gas and energy industry.

Peer Review Process

All articles submitted to the Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law undergo a preliminary evaluation by the Editor-in-Chief or the Associate Editors to assess its compliance with the journal focus and scope.

The manuscripts are then evaluated by at least two reviewers, according to the double blind peer review methodology. The reviewers assess all formal and substantial aspects of the article and may suggest modifications. The authors will acknowledge the reviewers’ comments in order to implement - when necessary - the modifications suggested by the reviewers.

In specific cases, ad hoc reviewers may be invited to judge the merit of some papers. Exceptionally, authors with outstanding expertise may be invited – at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief – to publish in the Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law.

Articles will be reviewed taking into consideration the following criteria: (a) scientific relevance; (b) originality of the work within national and international scientific production; (c) theoretical and practical substantiation; (d) emphasis on the critical nature and in the editorial scope of the journal, and (e) technical and scientific accuracy of the presented research.

Publication Frequency

The Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law is published every year. The journal receives papers in continuous flow. Call for papers to special thematic editions can be exceptionally published.

Open Access Policy

The Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law provides open access to its content based on the principle that scientific knowledge must be freely available to the public in order to provide a greater global knowledge.

Visual Identity

The Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law thanks Leonardo Oliveira da Silva for the development of the visual identity of the electronic version of the publication, as well as the modernization of the logo of the Center for Advanced Studies and Researches in Oil and Gas Law.

Sources of Support

The Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law thanks the institutions that assist the publication of the journal:

• Faculdade de Direito (UERJ)
• Programa de Recursos Humanos (ANP)
• Centro de Estudos Avançados e Pesquisas em Direito do Petróleo (UERJ)

Journal History

Launched in 2006, the first two issues of the Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law included nearly 20 articles written by national and international specialists in the Oil and Gas industry. After a brief gap, our Journal returned in 2012 with its third volume, which included articles submitted by undergraduate students from the Rio de Janeiro State University Law School, as well as articles of foreign professionals referring to different aspects of the industry (mainly with regard to the International Investment Law and other topics which are familiar to the industry, now under a new approach, such as the regulation within the new context of the Pre-Salt Layer).

After the publishing of its third edition, the Journal will  be available in digital format until the first semester of 2013, joining the list of online  publications of our University and promoting international access to information about the Oil and Gas Law. Under the Double-Blind peer Review System we are able to meet the most demanding criteria of CAPES Webqualis. RBDP will make versions in Portuguese, Spanish and English available, allowing global access to the information on the new industry trends.

The publication is a result of the  critical mass of excellence established over the past ten years at our Law School, period in which different generations of undergraduate and postgraduate students developed their studies, attended to seminars and symposiums, and contributed consistently to a repository of knowledge and information about legal subjects that have been analyzing the new issues raised in the Oil & Gas Law field.

The Journal was born from the desire of the first participants of  the Program of Human Resources nº 33 (PRH-ANP/MCT No. 33), and it was solidified through an initiative of the Law School within the proposal of the Centre for Advanced Studies and Research in Oil & Gas Law (CEDPETRO).

PRH-33 allowed the financing of the first two numbers of the Journal and has provided steady academic renovation through students and lecturers engaged in its program activities.

Later on, CEDPETRO was also contemplated with the structural and financial support from PETROBRAS Human Resources Training Program (PFRH / PETROBRAS), increasing the number of scholarships  for the Graduate Program in our Law School and strengthening bonds with the research and extension projects at  College.

Some of our former students from the Oil & Gas Law Program are now developing researches overseas–in Norway, France, the USA and others – whether as employees or in later stages of their studies. There are also graduates of the program giving lectures at UERJ or at other universities.

CEDPETRO is involved in partnerships for events and courses, such as the graduate course in Law and Business within the Oil and Gas perspective, together with the Brazilian Institute of Oil, Gas and Biofuels (IBP). The programme has worked as a vehicle to promote the interaction between the academy and professional institutions in the Oil and Gas Industry. The center background has  served as a polarizer for the establishment of the first Brazilian and Latin American Student's Club of the Association of International Oil Negotiators (AIPN), under the supervision of a member of the Education Advisory Board of the association, Professor Marilda Rosado.

The Editorial Board of the Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law is composed of lecturers who work directly in the program, as well as national and foreign professors who cooperate with the exchange of academic research and the maintenance of a regular qualified journal for the national legal doctrine.

More recently, as a result of the actions of Professor Marilda Rosado, RBDP’s chief editor and member of the editorial board of  The Journal of World Energy Law and Business (JWELB), published by Oxford Journals, a natural synergy has aroused between these two publications. In the special issue on Latin America of 2012, the young members of our editorial board could also act in support of the international edition of that publication, adding experience and reputation to our editorial team.

The editorial focus of RBDP turns to the energy chain and related studies, of undeniable importance in the contemporary society, which coexists with an increasing flow of international investments. In the context of energy investments, a new balance of forces is presented. Besides the global operations of transnational companies, the mapping of the world’s reserves of oil and gas brought a new bargaining power to national companies  in their process of increased internationalization.

Furthermore, new energy sources, such as the shale gas in the North American continent, caused significant changes in the international geopolitical energy map.

The new challenges facing the regulation of energy investments in the host countries is echoed in the complex scenario of uncertainty, in which there is evenmore intensive economic interdependence between the States.

The incorporation of new dimensions, associated with the increasing concern regarding the issues of high common interest of mankind, such as protection of the environment and human rights,find an echo in the scope of these new studies.

Thus, the Journal seeks to continually focus on the transformations undergone by the international and Brazilian oil industry, with the participation of several reflections of Brazilians and foreigners in this way. Likewise, we hope always to count on the active participation of professors and professionals from our program who collaborate with this publication.

In addition to the articles, the journal aims at maintaining a section devoted to listing the papers, essays and thesis elaborated at our Law School, a section of cases, and occasional reviews of works focused on the theme of the Oil and Energy Law and related subjects.

In this process of interdisciplinary reflection, it is worth noting the efforts represented by the National Oil and Gas Institute (INOG), which, under the coordination of UERJ’s Faculty of Geology, has allowed participants of our Law School an interaction with the scientific production of other Colleges that also research on the subject. It is with pride and contentment that the Editorial Board of the Brazilian Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law presents itself by means of the achievements of this community integrated into a network of research and production at international level.