National Institute for the Development of Advanced Geochemical Analytical Procedures Applied to Oil and Gas Exploration

• Grant number: 08/57861-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2009
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Agreement: CNPq - INCTs
• Principal Investigator: Colombo Celso Gaeta Tassinari
• Grantee: Colombo Celso Gaeta Tassinari
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant(s): 13/09010-9 - The Nico Pérez Terrane (Uruguay): an exotic basement block of Western Gondwana? Comparison with Curitiba and Luiz Alves microplates (south Brazil), AV.EXT; 11/00018-1 - Thermochronology in tectonometamorphic and metallogenetic modelling, AV.EXT
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/10401-0 - The use of pb isotopes in sulfides from the engenho d'agua golden mine, Quadrilátero Ferrífero (MG): a contribution to the metallogenic model, BP.IC; 10/20380-4 - Development of the phosphate Lu-Hf geochronology at University of São Paulo: New apllication for high-precision Lu-Hf isotope micro-analysis in the oil and gas exploration, BP.PD

Abstract

Instituto INDETEC The last two decades was marked by a strong development in isotope geochemistry and geochronology, which are fields that have been increasingly important to address studies in Earth Sciences. These techniques have also been applied in industry, in environmental studies and in basic research. Oil and gas exploration and production, for instance, are an important field for application of these techniques, requiring novel approach as well as large number and precise analyses. For example, isotope geochemistry has been applied to address paleoclimatic and paleogeographic evolution of oil bearing sedimentary basins, provenance of oil reservoir sedimentary rocks, dating sedimentary rocks as well as post-depositional sedimentary processes (e.g. diagenesis) and oil, trace oil migration and evaluate the thermal and tectonic evolution of sedimentary basins and their basement. Oil and gas industry are under pressure to increase the actual reserves and to discover new oil reservoirs. Because isotope geochemistry has demonstrate to be a useful tool for oil and gas prospection, an strong effort was made in Brazil to create a research infrastructure based on isotope geochemistry applied to oil and gas studies. This effort resulted in the Geochronos Network, which is the National Network of Geochronological, Geodynamic and Environmental Studies that was established in 2004. The Geochronos Network comprises the University Of São Paulo (USP), the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), the University of Brasília (UnB), the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), as well as the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), PETROBRAS and the Brazilian Geological Survey (CPRM). The Geochronos project was created to develop new procedures based on dating and tracing geological and environmental processes by using isotope geochemistry. On the other hand, after 2004 the discovery of new oil and gas fields in ultra-deep waters, below a regional evaporate layer in the Santos and Campos basins, project worldwide the Brazil and platform as one of the major oil and gas reservoirs of the planet. The exploration of these deep oil and gas reservoirs will be a major challenge in technology, requiring the development of knowledge and research. The National Institute may contribute to address this challenge once it has one of the best infrastructures in the country and well trained and experienced scientists. This environment is ideal to promote a real integration between academy and industry. The headquarters of National Institute here proposed will the Instituto de Geociências of the Universidade de São Paulo. Other laboratories of the Institute are placed at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, at the University of Brasilia, and at the Federal Univerisity of Pará, thus comprising the most important centers of geochronology and isotope geology in the country. The National Institute for the Development of Advanced Geochemical Analytical Procedures Applied to Oil and Gas Exploration will develop advanced applications in oil and gas exploration using isotope techniques. It aims also to develop high technological research in a joint venture of universities and industry. Because of the infrastructure and high qualified researches, the new institute will attract students and researches worldwide. It will also further promote scientific collaboration with national and international research centers. The National institute aims to be an important center for training and development of solution for the oil and gas industry. Finally, it will also attract qualified and talented Brazilian researches and pro mote research collaborations with first class international institutions aiming to exchange technology and knowledge. The present proposal will consolidate the Geochronos Network and represents a benchmark in geosciences in South America because it made possible new conditions for the development of the geological knowledge in the continent. The infrastructure ma de available by Geochronos and consolidated by the National Institute has been a priority for the Brazilian geosciences community for quite a long time... (AU)