Candeias Field, First to Produce Oil in Brazil: Well C-01 Was Drilled in 1941 and Gave Rise to Mataripe Refinery

Written by Bruno Teles

Published on 15/04/2025 at 15:04

Primeiro poço comercial do país foi perfurado em 1941 no Recôncavo Baiano e deu origem à refinaria de Mataripe, atual REFMAT Acelen

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First Commercial Well in the Country Was Drilled in 1941 in the Recôncavo Baiano and Gave Rise to the Mataripe Refinery, Now REFMAT Acelen

The Candeias field, located in the municipality of Candeias, Bahia, made history on December 13, 1941, when the C-01 well (Candeias-01) gushed oil for the first time on a commercial scale in Brazil. It was the beginning of the journey that would transform the country into one of the largest global oil producers, culminating in the discoveries of the pre-salt.

Geologist Pedro Moura, responsible for the well’s location, etched his name with the first great achievement of Brazilian geology. The production of Candeias, initially operated by Petrobras, is now conducted by BRAVA Energia, a merger of 3R Petroleum and Enauta.

Candeias Field: Cradle of the Oil Industry in Brazil

First commercial well in the country was drilled in 1941 in the Recôncavo Baiano and gave rise to the Mataripe Refinery, now REFMAT Acelen

The original structure of the Candeias field was made up of riveted storage tanks, a technique that predates the widespread introduction of welding. These tanks were installed around the first producing wells and represent the beginning of the Brazilian industrial infrastructure in the oil and gas sector.

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With the growth of production, the need arose to build a nearby refinery. In 1947, work began on the Landulpho Alves Refinery (RLAM), now REFMAT Acelen, located just 5 km from the field, in the neighboring municipality of São Francisco do Conde. The unit was the first refinery in Brazil and continues to be one of the country’s main ones today.

From the Era of Rivets to the Pre-Salt: Technical and Cultural Legacy

The Candeias field symbolizes the link between the beginning of the national industry and modern technological advancements. Even today, it is possible to find operational equipment from the 1940s, thanks to rigorous inspection, maintenance, and asset integrity programs.

The journey that began in the Recôncavo Baiano was the starting point for Brazil to reach ultra-deep fields like those of the pre-salt, where production exceeds 3 million barrels per day, using state-of-the-art drilling ships and carbon capture and gas reinjection technologies.

The legacy of the Candeias field lives on not only through production but also through the preservation of the memory and effort of generations of workers, from fishermen and shellfish gatherers to engineers and technicians.

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Candeias Field, First to Produce Oil in Brazil: Well C-01 Was Drilled in 1941 and Gave Rise to Mataripe Refinery

First Commercial Well in the Country Was Drilled in 1941 in the Recôncavo Baiano and Gave Rise to the Mataripe Refinery, Now REFMAT Acelen

Candeias Field: Cradle of the Oil Industry in Brazil

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

From the Era of Rivets to the Pre-Salt: Technical and Cultural Legacy

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Candeias Field, First to Produce Oil in Brazil: Well C-01 Was Drilled in 1941 and Gave Rise to Mataripe Refinery

First Commercial Well in the Country Was Drilled in 1941 in the Recôncavo Baiano and Gave Rise to the Mataripe Refinery, Now REFMAT Acelen

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