Deep beneath the waters of the Atlantic off Brazil's most northern coast, French major Total SA is hunting for what it hopes will be Latin America's next big oil discovery. Metal drill bits, pipes and containers filled with equipment sit in the sweltering tropical port of Belem, near the mouth of the vast Amazon River, ready to sink the first exploratory wells 120 km (75 miles) offshore. Some geologists say the area, known as the Foz do Amazonas Basin, may contain as many as 14 billion barrels of petroleum, more than the entire proven reserves of Mexico. But another underwater discovery threatens to derail Total's plans: a massive system of coral reefs just 28 kilometres from where the French firm and its partners, Britain's BP PLC and Brazilian state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, plan to drill.ÊEnvironmentalists are now pressuring regulators to block oil exploration in the area. They believe the thriving reef, which is more 1,000 kilometres long and teaming with brightly coloured coral and giant sponges, may be home to new marine species.ÊREUTERS/Ricardo Moraes SEARCH "OIL AMAZON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: BRAZIL-OIL/AMAZON 

Deep beneath the waters of the Atlantic off Brazil's most northern coast, French major Total SA is hunting for what it hopes will be Latin America's next big oil discovery. Metal drill bits, pipes and containers filled with equipment sit in the sweltering tropical port of Belem, near the mouth of the vast Amazon River, ready to sink the first exploratory wells 120 km (75 miles) offshore. Some geologists say the area, known as the Foz do Amazonas Basin, may contain as many as 14 billion barrels of petroleum, more than the entire proven reserves of Mexico. But another underwater discovery threatens to derail Total's plans: a massive system of coral reefs just 28 kilometres from where the French firm and its partners, Britain's BP PLC and Brazilian state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, plan to drill.ÊEnvironmentalists are now pressuring regulators to block oil exploration in the area. They believe the thriving reef, which is more 1,000 kilometres long and teaming with brightly coloured coral and giant sponges, may be home to new marine species.ÊREUTERS/Ricardo Moraes SEARCH "OIL AMAZON" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: BRAZIL-OIL/AMAZON 

Traders works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates, in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates, in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates, in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates, in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates, in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates, in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates, in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen shows news of the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen shows news of the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen shows news of the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in New York, U.S., December 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

U.S. Federal Reserve Board chair Janet Yellen shakes hands with Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) (L) before testifying at a Congressional Joint Economic hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S. November 17, 2016. REUTERS/Gary Cameron 

U.S. Federal Reserve Board chair Janet Yellen is seen with Chair Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) (L) and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) (R) before testifying at a Congressional Joint Economic hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S. November 17, 2016. REUTERS/Gary Cameron 

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde (R) sits with Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer (L) during the IMF’s 17th Jaques Polak Annual Research Conference in Washington November 3, 2016.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) questions Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen as she delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) question Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen as she delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen prepares to deliver the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen prepares to deliver the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen walks to deliver the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen prepares to deliver the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen prepares to deliver the semi-annual testimony on the "Federal Reserve's Supervision and Regulation of the Financial System" before the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts 

Alan S. Blinder, former Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is seen during an interview with Reuters in New York, January 18, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo 

FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairmman Janet Yellen, in New York, New York, U.S. December 16, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo 

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan (R) appears by video conference as current Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen, former Federal Reserve chairs Ben Bernanke, and Paul Volcker participate in a forum in New York, April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Kathy Willens/Pool TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A security guard walks in front of an image of the Federal Reserve before the arrival of U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to give a news conference following the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policy meeting in Washington, March 16, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque 

U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen (L) talks with Congressman Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) (R) before her testimony at the House Financial Services Committee in Washington February 10, 2016. REUTERS/Gary Cameron 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs.REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs.REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs.REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairmman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as a television screen displays coverage of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairmman Janet Yellen shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shortly after the announcement that the U.S. Federal Reserve had hiked interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade in New York, December 16, 2015. The U.S. central bank's policy-setting committee raised the range of its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to between 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent, ending a lengthy debate about whether the economy was strong enough to withstand higher borrowing costs. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

United States Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen testifies before a Joint Congressional Economic hearing on "The Economic Outlook" on Capitol Hill in Washington December 3, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron 

United States Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen (L) is questioned by the chair of Joint Congressional Economic hearing, Senator Daniel Coats (R-IN) (R) on "The Economic Outlook" in Washington December 3, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

United States Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen appears before a Joint Congressional Economic hearing on "The Economic Outlook" on Capitol Hill in Washington December 3, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

United States Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen appears before a Joint Congressional Economic hearing on "The Economic Outlook" on Capitol Hill in Washington December 3, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron