The set of geological elements that control the petroleum existence and distribution in the sedimentary basins are integrated under the concept of petroleum systems. Such a concept seems to adequately justify the known petroleum provinces worldwide. The Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Brazilian margin provided the key elements for petroleum existence. In the present day view, the deep water domain of the Campos Basin appears as the area where petroleum systems worked in a very favourable manner, being the region that presently holds most of Brazilian oil and gas reserves. The history of petroleum exploration in Brazil includes three major phases: the pre-Petrobras phase, characterized by pioneer recognition activities; the Petrobras period, when the Company worked under the monopoly regime, including the following sub-phases 1954/1968: exploration in land, 1969/1974: shallow water activities; 1975/1984: shallow water in Campos Basin; and 1985/1997: deep water exploration; each one of these sub-phases had very peculiar characteristics, and the Brazilian petroleum reserves increased progressively during the entire phase, reaching today the amount of 16 billion barrels of oil-equivalent. Today, the Country is living under the New Regulation of the Petroleum Sector; new players came into the game, re-exploring older provinces and reaching brand new, challenging frontiers.
Petroleum exploration; Petroleum Provinces; Brazilian petroleum reserves; Continental margin
