CRITICAL ISSUES IN DRILLING & COMPLETIONS
Petrobras relying on innovation,
close supplier collaboration
to keep cost escalation in check
Safety and sustainability are also seen as
critical priorities as the NOC embraces new
well control, emissions reduction technologies
BY LINDA HSIEH, EDITOR & PUBLISHER
From your role at Petrobras, what do
you see as the biggest near-term
challenges for the drilling industry?
In the short term, we are faced with the
challenge of successfully executing our
entire planned well campaign, given the
significant number of projects that need
to be implemented in the upcoming years.
Looking ahead to the medium term, it is
crucial for us to ensure the economic feasi-
bility of these projects, taking into account
the escalating prices and the high demand
from the industry.
What impacts has Petrobras seen
from global inflation or supply chain
bottlenecks on its drilling campaigns?
The significant impacts are driven by
the escalating prices, resulting from the
limited availability of rigs in the market
and the overall supply chain constraints.
Consequently, we have been proactive-
ly addressing these challenges through
innovation, effective performance man-
agement, and close collaboration with our
suppliers, with a particular focus on stra-
tegic planning.
Where is Petrobras looking for cost
reductions? Innovation is key. We have several
examples to highlight, including opti-
mized open-hole well configurations, Drill
Through wellhead systems and new bit
technologies. These advancements are
part of our innovation portfolio, which
16 Carlos José do Nascimento Travassos,
Executive Officer for Engineering, Tech-
nology and Innovation, Petrobras
aims to increase reliability. This will result
in higher well productivity, as well as cost
and emissions reductions, while main-
taining or improving operational safety
and integrity.
Considering Petrobras did not get the
environmental license to drill in the
Brazilian Equatorial area, what are
Petrobras’ plans to get this authoriza-
tion? What challenges has Petrobras seen
with rig start-up operations in Brazil? Is
there closer collaboration with rig
contractors to ensure the startup pro-
cess is smooth?
The environmental licensing process
for the Equatorial Margin is proceeding
as expected, with the responsible authori-
ties posing relevant questions about our
operations and our team providing clear
responses to address them. This exchange
is a normal part of the process.
The good news is that we have suc-
cessfully obtained the environmental
license to initiate drilling activities in
the Potiguar Basin, which is also located
in the Equatorial Margin. The drilling
operations in the Potiguar Basin began in
December 2023. Additionally, we are con-
fident in our progress toward obtaining
the environmental license to drill wells
in other basins of the Equatorial Margin,
such as the one located in the Amapá
coast. Current startup processes have pre-
sented several challenges, such as lack
of trained personnel, supplier difficulties
– manpower and inventory – and under-
estimation of the challenges related to
heating up a cold-stacked rig. To overcome
this challenge, we are working closely
with drilling contractors from contract
signing through mobilization and up to the
campaign start, promoting the exchange of
lessons learned and careful planning.
Petrobras is starting up several rigs for
operation in 2024. What is being done
to make sure that, on the operator
side, you will be read y?
Immediately after the contract is signed,
a rig acceptance and start-up group is
formed. In this group, all relevant stake-
holders are brought together toward the
overall goal of having the unit operating
safely ASAP. During this phase, discus-
sions and actions related to equipment
preparation and readiness, inspections
and legal and regulatory requirements
take place.
What upgrades would you like to see
drilling contractors make on their drill-
ing rigs? What equipment or technol-
ogies would make your drilling opera-
tions easier or better?
It is common for companies to perform
market analysis, projections and prospec-
tive evaluations.
When it comes to technological aspects,
there is no doubt that measures to enhance
efficiency and safety must be consistent-
ly implemented. Notable advancements
JAN UARY/FEB RUARY 2024 • D R I LLI N G CO N T R ACTO R
CRITICAL ISSUES IN DRILLING & COMPLETIONS
include emissions reduction technologies,
improved BOP shearing capacity, riserless
(open sea) operations, robotics and intel-
ligent rig equipment.
How is Petrobras using automation/
digital technologies? Can you talk
about any projects where they have
demonstrated valu e?
Digitalization has been a major transfor-
mational driver toward higher efficiency
and safer operations, with widespread
adoption throughout the organization,
both in terms of development and user
adoption. One notable innovation is the digital
twin for real-time well integrity moni-
toring (WISLIVE), which has been devel-
oped through partnerships between the
company and universities. WISLIVE has
significantly contributed to improving
safety during operation and production,
effectively preventing unforeseen integ-
rity issues that could potentially result
in production interruptions. Currently, all
pre-salt wells are under continuous moni-
toring with WISLIVE.
Furthermore, we can also highlight the
POÇOWEB platform, which enables faster
and standardized design conception and
efficient management of ANP (Brazilian
National Agency for Petroleum, Natural
Gas and Biofuels) documents. By automat-
ing workflows and integrating specialized
tools, POÇOWEB improves agility and effi-
ciency in these processes.
Are there specific areas of well con-
struction where you think innovation is
most urgently needed?
Safety, safety and safety.
Safety is more than important.
Embracing the possibilities that technol-
ogy can offer in this field is the way
forward. We must leverage technology
to minimize risk exposure, employ artifi-
cial intelligence for making complex and
reliable decisions, and implement digi-
tal monitoring and remote operations, all
with the aim of enhancing reliability,
integrity and safety.
Regarding BOP technologies, Petrobras
is leading the market with technical spec-
ifications that enhance the equipment’s
shearing capabilities. Additionally, the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
is a rapidly increasing demand in our
industry, and Petrobras is also foster-
ing the market by offering incentives for
reducing diesel consumption in new rig
contracts. Our long-term vision also comprises
some disruptive concepts, such as reel
casing and drilling operations that
involve alternative rock removal and flex-
ible casing.
What do you see as the biggest chal-
lenges and technology gaps for well
completions today?
One of the key challenges is to enhance
reliability, which in turn leads to
improved safety and productivity in pro-
duction systems. This can be propelled
through the development of technologies
such as electrification and continuous
monitoring. Petrobras is transitioning toward all-
electric systems, incorporating intelligent
completion valves and subsurface safety
valves to enhance productivity and reli-
ability in full field developments.
Furthermore, continuous monitor-
ing, such as through fiber optics, has the
potential to optimize reservoir manage-
ment. We know that drilling rigs usually make
up a rather small percentage of an
E&P’s total emissions. Are drilling rigs a
key part of Petrobras’ emissions
reduction efforts? What would you like
to see drilling contractors do to assist
with your efforts?
We are facing a time where any and
every reduction is necessary, and it is
up to all of us to take all possible actions
to decrease emissions. Regardless of the
scale, every reduction is valuable.
In this way, we have been actively
promoting the engagement of drilling
contractors in developing innovative
technologies to reduce diesel consump-
tion, incentivizing them through contract
incentives. We firmly believe that col-
laboration is the most effective path to
progress. How do you view the importance of
carbon capture, utilization and stor-
age (CCUS) efforts in the energy tran-
sition? The energy transition process is a
movement that does not take place homo-
geneously. In reality, we could talk about
energy transitions, which are defined from
national solutions that respect the history,
capabilities and resources of each country.
The need for differentiation in the
forms of transition and the time in which
it will take place is especially true when
we think about a fair transition. This
requires balancing a transformation of
energy systems toward low-carbon tech-
nologies, at the lowest possible cost, and
expanding the population with access to
energy. Thus, there are several pathways for
the energy transition, and I see CCUS
as one of them. The energy transition
requires significant efforts from coun-
tries and companies, and CCUS is part
of those efforts. Other measures must
be taken along this path. Each company
must assess its portfolio to operate in a
safer, more efficient and environmentally
responsible manner.
We consider CCUS as a critical enabler
to meet the government’s and private sec-
tor’s commitment to net-zero targets –
CCUS requires collaboration among gov-
ernment, industry and the public.
The Petrobras CCUS program, which is
implemented in the pre-salt fields, was
considered in 2021 and 2022 as the larg-
est in the world in operation and is also
the pioneer in ultra-deepwaters. Based
on the lessons learned, new studies are
being designed to enable cost reduction
and expand the frontiers of CCUS appli-
cation. It’s clear that Petrobras expects to
reduce emissions in its projects and is
investing in technologies and initia-
tives for this purpose. Are we only talk-
ing about new fields or is there also
the perspective of emission reduction
in revitalization projects?
D R I LLI N G CO N T R ACTO R • JAN UARY/FEB RUARY 2024
“Petrobras innovations”
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