Abstract
This paper brings to light a still poorly known history, which demonstrates the technological and intellectual momentum of the geology of the State of São Paulo, before the creation of Petrobras. Although the results regarding the presence of oil in significant amounts were disappointing, relevant geological results were achieved, as well as technical advances. The initial steps of oil exploration in the State of São Paulo were linked to private entrepreneurs, and date back to the year of 1872. Exploration and research attempts took place in the hinterland localities of Morro do Bofete and Águas de São Pedro, through geological studies performed by naturalists, engineers and geologists. In the 1920s, surveys were performed by the Geographical and Geological Commission of São Paulo (CGG), in cooperation with the Brazilian Geological and Mineralogical Survey (SGMB). A special subdivision was created within the CGG in 1927, and the North American petroleum geologist Chester Wesley Washburne (1883–1971) was hired in 1928. The set of documentation used includes private and official letters, besides other types of historical documents, in custody of the Historical Archives of the State Geological Institute of São Paulo.
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Notes
- 1.
Eduardo Prado was an outstanding lawyer, journalist, and writer of Monarchist political orientation. He was one of the founders of the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL) (Chair nº 40), and a very close friend of Orville Derby.
- 2.
Luiz Matheus Maylasky, born in Hungary, was the founder and the first President of the Sorocaba Railroad. He was honored, in Portugal, with the title of first Viscount of Sapucaí (1891), and died in France (Nice).
- 3.
Official letter from the Rectorate of the University of Liège, June 4, 1970. Reproduced in Collon (1897), pp. 27–28.
- 4.
Translation prepared by Mr. Júlio Manoel Domingues in 2008 (http://porangabasuahistoria.com/artigos-publicados/entrevista-julio-manoel-domingues/). Access on September 10, 2017.
- 5.
“Wildcat drilling” is an exploration process in an unproven area and for which there is, as yet, no prospect of commercial quantities.
- 6.
In update values for 2018, this would amount to circa USD 7,000,000.00 (http://www.saving.org/inflation/inflation.php?amount=500,000&year=1926, access on May 10, 2018).
- 7.
State Law nº 2.219.
- 8.
In update values, circa $5000.00 in 2018.
- 9.
Document nº 1611, May 11, 1928. Historical Archive of the Geological Institute of São Paulo (AHIGSP), Box 56.
Sources
Manuscript Sources
Historical Archives of the Instituto Geológico (SP): FCGG, Série Técnico–Científica, Boxes 55 to 59
Printed Sources
Collon A (1897) Le Pétrole dans les environs du Mont de Bofete el de Porto–Martins, dans l’État de São Paulo, suivi d’une Étude Chimico–industrielle des grès bitumineux cette region. Brejão 1897. Fac–simile edition by: Instituto Geográfico e Geológico, São Paulo: Secretaria de Estado da Agricultura, 1970
de Paiva G (1975) História da campanha de sondagens para pesquisa de petróleo na área de São Pedro, SP, (1921–1934). Secretaria da Agricultura: Coordenadoria da Pesquisa de Recursos Naturais: Instituto Geográfico e Geológico, São Paulo
Washburne CW (1930) Petroleum geology of the state of São Paulo – Brasil. Commissão Geographica e Geologica do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo
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Oliveira, J.C.T., Figueirôa, S.F.M. (2019). History of Oil Exploration in the State of São Paulo Before the Foundation of Petrobras (1872–1953). In: Figueirôa, S., Good, G., Peyerl, D. (eds) History, Exploration & Exploitation of Oil and Gas. Historical Geography and Geosciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13880-6_2
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