ANP confirms crude oil on farmer’s site in Tabuleiro do Norte in Ceará

Agência Nacional of Petróleo confirmed that the liquid found by Sidrônio Moreira in Tabuleiro of Norte is crude oil. The 63-year-old farmer drilled into the ground in search of water on his own farm and came across the substance. The analysis came out on Tuesday (19).

The material appeared at a depth of around 40 meters. The family had notified the agency in July 2025. Técnicos from the ANP visited the site in March this year and collected samples analyzed by Instituto Federal from Ceará.

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Constituição defines resource owner

Brazilian law establishes that the subsoil and its mineral resources belong to União. Sidrônio Moreira does not own or sell the oil on its own. The rule applies even to discoveries within private properties.

Especialistas recall similar cases in other regions. The land owner is prevented from extracting or selling the material without federal authorization.

• Commercial Exploração depends on ANP auction
• Proprietário can receive a share of up to 1% of production
• Compensação varies depending on volume, quality and technical factors
• Processo requires environmental studies and licenses

Technical evaluation Processo remains open

The ANP initiated an administrative procedure to measure the size of the reserve, the quality of the oil and its economic viability. Não there is a defined deadline for the end of studies. In many cases, areas with signs of oil do not progress towards production.

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The engineer who accompanied the family highlighted the need to balance costs and returns. Empresas interested parties evaluate quantity, depth and necessary infrastructure. Tabuleiro of Norte is close to Bacia Potiguar, already a producer in the neighboring region of Rio Grande of Norte.

The shallow depth caught the attention of technicians. Isso may reduce initial costs, but other factors decide advancement. The agency must define possible blocks for future offering in auctions.

Área remains isolated during studies

The ANP ordered the isolation of the well. Moradores avoid contact with the material and new collections. Secretaria of Meio Ambiente of Ceará also monitors the case for possible measures.

The family continues to have water supply difficulties. The site once again received water from a reactivated pipeline following the repercussions of the case. Sidrônio Moreira maintains his routine on the property of around 49 hectares.

Futures Clearing Expectativa

Caso exploitation occurs, the farmer can receive financial compensation. The percentage varies according to Lei and Petróleo rules and depends on effective production. The complete process involves geology, environment and bidding.

Etapas like these usually take years. Nem every discovery results in commercial operation. The family hopes that the studies will bring clarity about the potential of the area.