Abstract

This is an exploratory and qualitative study performed with 33 inhabitants of rural areas located in the city of Mossoró (RN) and its surroundings. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between owners of oil-producing land and oil-exploring companies. For data collection an interview with open questions was used and also a diary, in order to assist in non-participant research. The results showed the existence of a hierarchical relationship of power maintained between the interviewees and the exploring companies, making the first ones blame solely the state-owned oil company Petrobras by the decrease in financial grant, which happens because of the limitation in the use of their land. There was also an absence of social politics made by exploring companies as well as the public administration in order to make these individuals financially independent of the oil extraction profit. In previous years oil exploration sector in the region was able to modify the local reality because it assists in the activities of family agriculture and dairy farming, acting as financial support during periods of prolonged drought.

Keywords
Oil; exploring companies; land owners; semiarid region; onshore