A Unicamp signed another strategic partnership with Petrobras on the 10th for research and development projects. The University will operate in 19 of the 38 thematic networks defined by the company to increase its operations in the oil, gas and energy segments. The 19 terms of cooperation were signed by the rector José Tadeu Jorge and the executive manager of the Petrobras Research Center (Cenpes), Carlos Tadeu Fraga, in Rio de Janeiro.

Networks will have R$1,5 billion to run close to 400 projects

The 38 thematic networks established by Petrobras comprise at least 400 projects (the total number is not yet finalized). In addition to Unicamp, 75 other teaching and research institutions participate in the program. In total, the company will be investing around R$1,5 billion in these projects by 2009. The resources should be applied to research, development, laboratory infrastructure and human resources training.

This is not the first strategic partnership between Unicamp and Petrobras. With the company's support, the Center for Petroleum Studies (Cepetro), the Department of Petroleum Engineering and the Master's Course in Petroleum Engineering were created in 1987, all at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. In addition to participating in R&D projects, Cepetro makes a decisive contribution to the training of qualified labor for the oil market.

In 1990, the Master's Program in Reservoir Geoengineering was created at the Institute of Geosciences. In 1993, a Doctorate program in Petroleum Engineering was implemented. Currently, Cepetro supports courses and projects in the area of ​​petroleum science and engineering, covering the areas of oil exploration and geoengineering of oil reservoirs, serving the activities of geology, reservoir engineering, drilling and well contemplation, oil production and oil management. petroleum resources and seismic processing.

Among the courses offered by Unicamp, with the support of Cepetro, are the Master's and Doctorate in Petroleum Sciences and Engineering, the Extension Courses in Natural Gas Engineering and Regulation in the Petroleum Sector, subjects with an emphasis on Petroleum Engineering in the Undergraduate Course from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Graduation in Geology at the Institute of Geosciences.

World leader in offshore technology, Petrobras intends to invest around R$2006 billion in 38, of which 70% in exploration and production activities, according to the company's communications department. In 2005, Petrobras invested R$25,7 billion in all its activities, in Brazil and abroad. Investments in exploration and production absorbed 60% of this total. In 2004, the company invested a total of R$21,8 billion, of which 60% in activities focused on the exploration and development of oil and natural gas production.

One of the goals is to produce oil three thousand meters above sea level. R&D activities aimed at deepwater exploration have a strategic role. Of the average of 1,7 million barrels/day extracted by Petrobras last year, around 1,5 million came from the Campos Basin (RJ). Of this total, at least 1 million came from wells drilled in deep waters (over 400 meters) and ultra-deep waters (from 1,5 to 2 meters).