Environmental Engineering in the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Industry

• Grant number: 25/02818-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: George Victor Brigagão
• Grantee: George Victor Brigagão
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Ministério da Educação (Brasil)

Abstract

The proposal to update the ANP Human Resources Program (PRH-ANP) aims to continue PRH-17.1 (2020-2025), entitled "Environmental Engineering in the Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Industry", carried out at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). The program, which is eligible for the new phase under Public Call No. 01/PRH-ANP/2025, seeks to update the curriculum and include new courses, in line with the demands of the energy sector, such as decarbonization, energy transition, hydrogen, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear energy. PRH-17.1 - which has been running since 2020 - has already graduated 16 engineers, 5 masters and 4 researchers with completed post-doctorates, with several of its graduates already working for companies in the energy sector, such as Equinor, Repsol and Raízen. This proposal ensures the maintenance of undergraduate (Environmental, Chemical, Electrical and Petroleum Engineering) and postgraduate (Environmental, Electrical and Chemical and Biochemical Process Engineering) courses already present in the previous phase, as well as the inclusion of new courses: undergraduate in Civil, Nuclear and Bioprocess Engineering and postgraduate in Nuclear Engineering. The proposal comprises four specialization emphases: (i) Life Cycle Engineering and Management; (ii) Low Carbon Engineering and Management; (iii) Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency; and (iv) Environmental Safety in Energy Systems. The proposal highlights the expertise of the professors and their interaction with the oil, natural gas and biofuels industry, as well as UFRJ's academic infrastructure. The continuity of PRH-17.1 is crucial for training qualified professionals and for strengthening the postgraduate programs associated with it, especially the Environmental Engineering Program (PEA/UFRJ), which is the main program in this proposal. The inclusion of new courses broadens the scope of education, meeting the strategic demands of the ANP and the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE), contributing to the energy transition and decarbonization of the sector. Among the main topics that reflect the expertise of professors, we can highlight: carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), oil exploration and production technologies - especially the use of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) - natural gas and derivatives processing, biomass energy utilization and biofuel production - including biogas production and processing - hydrogen production and utilization technologies, 1st and 2nd generation petrochemicals, as well as environmental safety in nuclear installations, electricity generation with renewable sources (wind, solar, hydropower), interconnected systems with the insertion of renewable energies, and efficient energy storage. (AU)