Overview
- Petrobras announced the presence of hydrocarbons about 175 km off Amapá at roughly 2,900 meters depth, a disclosure made public on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the drillship, celebrated the find as a cornerstone of national sovereignty and called it a "pass for the future."
- The discovery was made at the Morph well, which experienced a January incident that released up to 18,000 liters of drilling fluid and led to a 30-day suspension of work.
- Petrobras says the size and commercial value of the deposit are unknown and has applied for test permits at three additional sites in Block 59 while Ibama is requesting more data before approving further drilling.
- Environmental groups and scientists warn the Amazon-estuary drilling risks harm to biodiversity, coastal communities and indigenous rights, and the find is being weighed against Brazil’s reliance on Pré-sal fields that currently supply about 80% of national oil and are expected to peak around 2035.