PRH 40.1 - Geosciences Applied to the Oil and Gas Sector

• Grant number: 25/03066-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Caetano Filho
• Grantee: Sergio Caetano Filho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Ademir Abdala Prata Junior ; César Augusto Moreira ; Didier Gastmans ; DIONISIO UENDRO CARLOS ; George Luiz Luvizotto ; Liane Yuri Kondo Nakada ; Lucas Moreira Furlan ; Lucas Verissimo Warren ; Lucilia do Carmo Giordano ; Marcelo Loureiro Garcia ; Marcos André de Oliveira ; Marcus Cesar Avezum Alves de Castro ; Maria Luisa Nerys de Moraes Carneiro ; Regiane Andrade Fumes ; Rodrigo Custodio Urban ; Rodrigo Irineu Cerri ; Rodrigo Prudente de Melo
• Associated researchers: Daniel Marcos Bonotto ; DIMAS DIAS BRITO ; Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira Reis ; Giancarlo Scardia ; Gilberto Athayde Albertão ; HERMES DIAS BRITO ; Iata Anderson de Souza ; Mitsuru Arai ; Norberto Morales ; Rosemarie Rohn ; Vania Silvia Rosolen

Abstract

The Program of Geosciences Applied to the Oil and Gas Sector (PRH-40.1) at UNESP has been redesigned to focus on three main areas: Petroleum Geology, covering the exploration and production of oil and natural gas (both onshore and offshore); Safety and Environment, as a cross-cutting theme; and Other Energy Sources, with an emphasis on Hydrogen and Strategic Minerals. The program integrates undergraduate courses in Geology and Environmental Engineering, as well as the Graduate Program in Geosciences and Environment, all affiliated with the Institute of Geosciences and Exact Sciences (IGCE/UNESP). IGCE/UNESP has been part of the PRH program since 1999, initially with PRH-05 and later with PRH-40.1. It benefits from the infrastructure of the Applied Natural Sciences Research Center (UNESPetro) and the Department of Geology, standing out in research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) in the oil and gas sector. Its consolidated role in Petroleum Geology and Safety and Environment is demonstrated by numerous R&D&I projects and training courses funded by the oil industry and development agencies, meeting the sector's increasing demands, particularly in the areas of exploration, reservoirs, and environmental management. The intense hydrocarbon exploration activity in the Santos and Campos Basins (Pre-Salt) requires highly qualified professionals to develop large oil fields and ensure environmental protection. Additionally, the discovery of Oil & Gas occurrences in the new frontier at the Brazilian Equatorial Margin highlights the urgent need for training specialized geologists. However, the growing industry demand for research projects surpasses UNESP's current capacity, underscoring the importance of continuing and expanding PRH-40.1. With the addition of the Other Energy Sources emphasis, the program broadens its scope to include natural hydrogen exploration and strategic minerals for the energy sector, leveraging the expertise of faculty from the Geology and Environmental Engineering departments. This new focus enriches educational and research opportunities within PRH-40.1. The program offers scholarships for various academic levels, including undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral students, as well as for visiting researchers, technical support, and coordination roles, enabling a continuous and high-quality academic progression. In addition to scholarships, the curriculum will feature complementary courses, fostering greater interaction among undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, visiting scholars, and faculty members. The integration of theory and practice will be reinforced through the development of final reports, monographs, dissertations, theses, and scientific articles, preparing students for a strong entry into the industry. IGCE/UNESP maintains strategic collaborations with PETROBRAS (CENPES and Exploration & Production groups), the Libra Consortium, and other academic institutions in the Southeast region, such as UNICAMP (Cepetro), UFRJ, UFF, UERJ, and USP. Additionally, it interacts with organizations such as INPE, IPT, and CETESB, further strengthening its regional impact in the areas covered by the program. These partnerships facilitate R&D&I projects, training courses, and field practices, such as those conducted in the Paraná Basin. PRH-40.1 aims to train highly qualified professionals to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry, as well as regulatory and environmental agencies. Former scholarship recipients are already in high demand within the sector, and future graduates are expected to follow the same trajectory, filling the demand for experts in Petroleum Geology, Safety and Environment, and Alternative Energy Sources. (AU)