RIO DE JANEIRO, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Vale, Brazil's largest private company, on Friday reported the discovery of hydrocarbons in an exploratory block off Brazil's southeastern coast.

    The hydrocarbons were located in the Vampira exploration well in the Santos Basin, Vale said.

    The global mining company said traces of light oil and natural gas were found in the Vampira well and that the exact volume will known after further tests.

    Vale in May announced the discovery of natural gas in the Panoramix well, also in the same exploratory block.

    Vale has a 12.5 percent participation in the block's exploration consortium. Brazil's state-run oil giant Petrobras has 35 percent, while Spain's Repsol, the block's operator, has 40 percent, and Australia's Woodside has 12.5 percent.

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