Innovation provides greater efficiency and operational safety, and less environmental impacts

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) announced, this Wednesday (8/30), that Petrobras will receive the 2023 OTC Brasil Distinguished Achievement Award in acknowledgment of the development of an unprecedented technological solution in the global offshore industry dedicated to well construction and intervention. Considered of great relevance to the deep-water segment, this award will be given to the company in October, during the Brazilian edition of the OTC conference, to be held in Rio de Janeiro.

In order to develop this new solution, Petrobras used a groundbreaking combination:  BOP (Blowout Preventer – safety equipment that controls well pressure) anchoring technology and real-time riser (column connecting the rig to the well) analysis, the main advantage if this combination being the possibility of using more modern dynamic positioning rigs to replace anchored rigs.

This new method reduces the duration of interventions in shallow water wells by seven days, resulting in reduced costs and an average reduction of 10% in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it reduces the impact of anchoring on the seabed by 99%, when compared to the use of traditional rigs, reducing the impacted area on the seabed in the same proportion. Thanks to this, this new technology makes operations in congested or environmentally sensitive areas much more feasible.

Check out our video about this technology:  Video – Petrobras Technology Awarded

“Receiving another award from OTC, the main entity of the global offshore industry, in the year when Petrobras celebrates its 70th anniversary, makes us very proud. We’re being recognized for our technical capabilities and the competence of our workers, who are constantly seeking the best solutions and the best results, always guided by the most rigorous safety standards. Throughout our history, we knew how to turn challenges into innovative technologies, which have shaped our evolution and have left a one-of-a-kind legacy for the segment. We must recognize that, it if weren’t for the dedication and excellence of our professionals, alongside our partners and suppliers, we wouldn’t have made it this far”, said Petrobras president Jean Paul Prates.

First shallow water BOP anchorage in the world

This new solution made it possible for rigs operating in deep water locations to also operate in shallow water locations, being adjusted with the BOP anchored for this purpose. Thanks to this method, Petrobras carried out the first shallow water BOP anchorage in the world, without using anchoring vessels, reducing costs and allowing the operation of wells that are difficult to reach – a true legacy for the industry on a global scale. Another advantage of this technology is the significant increase in the safety of operations.

Petrobras envisages to make use of this new solution in future projects aimed to revitalize mature oil fields, meeting environmental requirements by operating wells with the lowest possible impact.

History of OTC awards received

OTC is considered the most relevant entity in the offshore industry, and Petrobras will receive the Brazilian version of the award for the second time. The first award was received in 2019, in recognition of the set of technologies developed by the company to develop production in the Libra block, in the pre-salt fields located in the Santos Basin.

Moreover, Petrobras has already received four other OTC awards in its international version: in 1992 (for innovations developed for the Marlim field, in the Campos Basin); in 2001 (for the set of technologies used in Roncador, also located in that basin); in 2015 (for the set of state-of-the-art solutions used to make the Tupi field feasible, in the pre-salt fields located in the Santos Basin); and in 2020 (for the unprecedented methods devised to drive production in the Búzios pre-salt field, the largest in the world in ultra-deep waters).

Thanks to Petrobras’ technological evolution, recognized by the many awards granted by OTC, the company has consolidated, over the last few decades, its global leadership in terms of production in deep and ultra-deep waters.