Structural Integrity in Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Industry Facilities

• Grant number: 25/02575-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Marysilvia Ferreira da Costa
• Grantee: Marysilvia Ferreira da Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa (COPPE). Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
• City of the host institution: Rio de Janeiro
• Principal investigators: Alexandre Landesmann ; Ana Beatriz de Carvalho Gonzaga e Silva ; BIANCA DE CARVALHO PINHEIRO ; BLUMA GUENTHER SOARES ; Carlos Magluta ; Celio Albano da Costa Neto ; Cesar Giron Camerini ; DANIEL ALVES CASTELLO ; Fabio da Costa Figueiredo ; Fernando Jorge Mendes de Sousa ; Gabriela Ribeiro Pereira ; Hector Guillermo Kotik ; JOEL SENA SALES JUNIOR ; JOSE ANTONIO DA CUNHA PONCIANO GOMES ; Jose Luis Lopes da Silveira ; José Renato Mendes de Sousa

Abstract

The proposed initiative reflects 25 years of collaboration among researchers, which began in 2000 after an accident involving a Petrobras pipeline that resulted in a spill of 1.3 million liters of oil in Guanabara Bay. This event highlighted the urgent need for engineers with multidisciplinary training to tackle complex challenges in the oil and gas industry. In response, the PRH-35 program was created, operating for 15 years and training highly qualified professionals. In 2018, this initiative evolved into PRH 7.1 - Structural Integrity in Oil, Gas, and Renewable Energy Facilities, expanding its scope to include renewable energy and petroleum engineering.The program is essential for training professionals capable of ensuring the structural integrity of industrial facilities, from the design phase to decommissioning. It aims to understand the interactions between microstructure and mechanical behavior, addressing key topics such as corrosion, aging, and material selection. The demand for such expertise is increasing, particularly with the advancement of renewable energy in Brazil, where the energy matrix already shows a significant balance between renewable and non-renewable sources.The project is also relevant in the economic context of Rio de Janeiro, where the oil sector accounts for 53% of the state's economy. Companies such as Petrobras, Shell, Repsol, and Equinor, along with technology suppliers, have a high demand for specialized engineers. If this demand is not met domestically, professionals will be imported, negatively impacting local job creation. Thus, PRH 7.1 seeks to strengthen national training, foster industry-academia collaboration, and encourage the creation of technology-based startups.With the participation of five engineering programs at UFRJ, the initiative benefits from a modern infrastructure, including well-equipped laboratories, multimedia auditoriums, and digital libraries. Administrative support is provided by a centralized office, a management committee, and an efficient communication system that connects students, alumni, and faculty. The program also organizes events with industry professionals to facilitate students' entry into the job market.The continuation of the PRH program is essential to address industry challenges, strengthen the country's technological sovereignty, and ensure the safety and efficiency of national energy facilities. (AU)