SPE Brazil
Flow Assurance Technology Congress 2024
From Offshore Production to Energy Transition
6-8 November 2024, Rio de Janeiro
Bolsa do Rio Convention Center
Abstract
Flow assurance is a technical discipline focused on safety and efficient transportation of fluids to their destination. The flow assurance activities involve managing and mitigating many issues that might happen in the field.
To promote the exchange of experience among professionals, the Flow Assurance Technical committee of SPE Brazil section organized the 1st Flow Assurance Technology Congress (FATC) in November 2022.The event was a huge success, with more than 230 professionals (20 countries) from industry and academia, over 100 abstracts received and 13 sponsoring companies supporting the event.
The FATC second edition will cover traditional topics in flow assurance as well as its connection with digital transformation and energy transition. Flow assurance provides a set of technologies to support reducing carbon footprint in offshore operations by allowing for example long tiebacks to existing facilities. It also supports Carbon Capture Storage and Utilization (CCUS) operations by ensuring safety and efficient transport of CO2 streams from any industrial source.
Effective flow assurance practices are essential for ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficiency of energy production and transportation systems, and this will drive innovations such as smart sensors, predictive analytics, and special materials to improve the efficiency and sustainability of energy transportation systems.
We are excited to invite you to the 2nd edition of FATC, taking place in November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event will bring together professionals, students, experts, and innovators in the field, offering knowledge exchange and networking, to create the new flow assurance technology solutions of today and tomorrow.
Congress Chairs
Ricardo Camargo
Honorary Chair
Flow Assurance Consultant
Ricardo Camargo holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (UnB) and a master’s degree in petroleum engineering (Unicamp). He further pursued his education and earned a Doctorate degree in Chemical Kinetics, Catalysis, Combustion, and Modeling - Application to Hydrocarbons from Université Paris VI. Ricardo spent 38 years at PETROBRAS, where he held the position of Master Consultant. Currently, he provides consultancy services in Flow Assurance for BW Energy. Throughout his career, which spans over 40 years, his main focus has been deep offshore field production. He specializes in multiphase flow in pipes and gas lift design and operation. Ricardo possesses extensive expertise in Flow Assurance, supporting both the design and operation phases of projects. In recognition of his contributions, Ricardo received the SPE Production and Operations Award for the South America and Caribbean Region in 2017.
Ricardo Camargo holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (UnB) and a master’s degree in petroleum engineering (Unicamp). He further pursued his education and earned a Doctorate degree in Chemical Kinetics, Catalysis, Combustion, and Modeling - Application to Hydrocarbons from Université Paris VI. Ricardo spent 38 years at PETROBRAS, where he held the position of Master Consultant. Currently, he provides consultancy services in Flow Assurance for BW Energy. Throughout his career, which spans over 40 years, his main focus has been deep offshore field production. He specializes in multiphase flow in pipes and gas lift design and operation. Ricardo possesses extensive expertise in Flow Assurance, supporting both the design and operation phases of projects. In recognition of his contributions, Ricardo received the SPE Production and Operations Award for the South America and Caribbean Region in 2017.
Thierry Palermo
Honorary Chair
Flow Assurance Specialist
Thierry Palermo completed his studies at the University of Jussieu in Paris, where he obtained his PhD in Physical-chemistry. He worked at IFP (now IFPen), an applied research institute, for 20 years. Initially, he served as a research engineer and later became the head of a research department, focusing on areas such as tribology, wettability of reservoir rocks, emulsions, and additives. During his time at IFP, Thierry managed a project on Hydrates, collaborating with companies like Total, Elf, BP, Equinor (formerly Statoil), and Petrobras. He supervised tests on a high-pressure multiphase flow loop used extensively by Ricardo Camargo for his PhD work. Together, they proposed a new rheological approach based on Fractal theory to characterize hydrate slurries. Later, Thierry joined TotalEnergies, starting as a flow assurance specialist in the Production Division. He was later appointed as project manager for the R&D Flow Assurance project and Expert in Physical-chemistry. Thierry retired from the company one year ago.
Thierry Palermo completed his studies at the University of Jussieu in Paris, where he obtained his PhD in Physical-chemistry. He worked at IFP (now IFPen), an applied research institute, for 20 years. Initially, he served as a research engineer and later became the head of a research department, focusing on areas such as tribology, wettability of reservoir rocks, emulsions, and additives. During his time at IFP, Thierry managed a project on Hydrates, collaborating with companies like Total, Elf, BP, Equinor (formerly Statoil), and Petrobras. He supervised tests on a high-pressure multiphase flow loop used extensively by Ricardo Camargo for his PhD work. Together, they proposed a new rheological approach based on Fractal theory to characterize hydrate slurries. Later, Thierry joined TotalEnergies, starting as a flow assurance specialist in the Production Division. He was later appointed as project manager for the R&D Flow Assurance project and Expert in Physical-chemistry. Thierry retired from the company one year ago.
Adriana Teixeira
Technical Chair
Petrobras
Adriana Teixeira has 20 years of experience at Petrobras Research Center in Brazil as a Master Petroleum Chemist and Flow Assurance Specialist. She leads research projects to address operational needs in these areas. With a master’s degree in chemistry and a PhD in Chemical Engineering, her research focuses on hydrate risk management and its impact on Flow Assurance challenges. Adriana is actively involved in professional organizations, holding positions as Director and Regional Champion for Brazil at the SPE Flow Assurance Technical Section and as the planning coordinator of the Flow Assurance Committee at the SPE Brazil Section.
Adriana Teixeira has 20 years of experience at Petrobras Research Center in Brazil as a Master Petroleum Chemist and Flow Assurance Specialist. She leads research projects to address operational needs in these areas. With a master’s degree in chemistry and a PhD in Chemical Engineering, her research focuses on hydrate risk management and its impact on Flow Assurance challenges. Adriana is actively involved in professional organizations, holding positions as Director and Regional Champion for Brazil at the SPE Flow Assurance Technical Section and as the planning coordinator of the Flow Assurance Committee at the SPE Brazil Section.
OPENING SESSION
A History of…
Flow Assurance and a Hydrate Blockage Risk Model
Speaker
Ricardo Camargo
Flow Assurance Consultant
Speaker
Thierry Palermo
Flow Assurance Specialist
Moderator
Adriana Teixeira
Senior Petroleum Chemist
Petrobras
Keynotes Speakers
As Wood's Global Head of CO2 - Transport and Storage, with extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams on energy transition projects, Stephen possesses a comprehensive understanding of CO2 transport and storage challenges, from the supply to the injection point. He has delivered projects including onshore and offshore hub network development, multi‐discipline assessments of long distance, large diameter dense phase CO2 pipelines. He has also managed projects for liquid CO2 import‐by-ship opportunities. Stokes is dedicated to driving excellence in CCS project execution. He brings 23 years of experience and is author of several CO2 transport papers.
As Wood's Global Head of CO2 - Transport and Storage, with extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams on energy transition projects, Stephen possesses a comprehensive understanding of CO2 transport and storage challenges, from the supply to the injection point. He has delivered projects including onshore and offshore hub network development, multi‐discipline assessments of long distance, large diameter dense phase CO2 pipelines. He has also managed projects for liquid CO2 import‐by-ship opportunities. Stokes is dedicated to driving excellence in CCS project execution. He brings 23 years of experience and is author of several CO2 transport papers.
Stephen Stokes
Global Head of CO₂ - Wood (USA)
Session: CO₂ Transportation and GHG Reduction
Spinelli holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering (PUC-RIO, 1983), a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (PUC-RIO, 1987) and Ph.D. in Mechanics (University of Minnesota, 1994). He works in Petrobras Artificial Lift and Flow Assurance area since 1987, initially in the CENPES R&D Center and, for the last 20 years at the E&P headquarters. He also held part time teaching positions throughout his career at PUC-RIO, UFF, UFRJ, IBP and at Petrobras University. Currently, he is also pursuing a Law degree at Cândido Mendes University.
Spinelli holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering (PUC-RIO, 1983), a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (PUC-RIO, 1987) and Ph.D. in Mechanics (University of Minnesota, 1994). He works in Petrobras Artificial Lift and Flow Assurance area since 1987, initially in the CENPES R&D Center and, for the last 20 years at the E&P headquarters. He also held part time teaching positions throughout his career at PUC-RIO, UFF, UFRJ, IBP and at Petrobras University. Currently, he is also pursuing a Law degree at Cândido Mendes University.
Geraldo Spinelli
Artificial Lift Consultant - Petrobras (Brazil)
Session: Well Performance, Artificial Lift, and Flow Technologies
Annie FIDEL-DUFOUR has joined TotalEnergies, in 2004 after a PhD about the influence of anti-agglomerants additives on the aggregation and transport properties of methane hydrates in water/dodecane emulsions from ENS-Mines de Saint-Etienne, France. From 2004 to 2009, she was a project manager in the Refining branch. In 2009, she joined the Flow Assurance operation support team as a treatment engineer. From 2012 to 2014, she worked on Bloc 17 in Angola to support operations on flow assurance topics. In 2014, she joined the Flow Modeling team in Paris. She moved to Brazil to be in charge of the Flow Assurance team from 2017 to 2020. Since 2020, she is the R&D Flow Assurance – “Hydrates & Wax” project manager within the R&D Deep Offshore Program since 2020.
Annie FIDEL-DUFOUR has joined TotalEnergies, in 2004 after a PhD about the influence of anti-agglomerants additives on the aggregation and transport properties of methane hydrates in water/dodecane emulsions from ENS-Mines de Saint-Etienne, France. From 2004 to 2009, she was a project manager in the Refining branch. In 2009, she joined the Flow Assurance operation support team as a treatment engineer. From 2012 to 2014, she worked on Bloc 17 in Angola to support operations on flow assurance topics. In 2014, she joined the Flow Modeling team in Paris. She moved to Brazil to be in charge of the Flow Assurance team from 2017 to 2020. Since 2020, she is the R&D Flow Assurance – “Hydrates & Wax” project manager within the R&D Deep Offshore Program since 2020.
Annie Fidel-Dufour
R&D Project Manager “Flow Assurance” “Hydrates & Wax” - TOTAL Energies (France)
Session: Challenges in Long Tiebacks
Nicolas Passade-Boupat has joined TotalEnergies, formerly Total, in 2001 after a PhD in polymer physics and graduating from ESPCI in Paris, France, and has worked in R&D since then. From 2011 to 2023, he was the manager of an R&D department working on physical chemistry in the energy industry (Flow Assurance, EOR, Well productivity) and was recognized internally as a “specialist” in Physical Chemistry in 2013, with a focus on asphaltenes, calcium naphthenates, emulsions, foams, and chemicals additives He was also the director of “Physical chemistry of Complex Interfaces” laboratory, a joint laboratory between TotalEnergies, CNRS, and ESPCI from 2015 to 2023. Since the end of 2023, he took the position of R&D Theme leader in “Flow Assurance” within the R&D Deep Offshore Program. His contribution to the field includes about 50 published papers, 65 communications to conferences, and 20 patents.
Nicolas Passade-Boupat has joined TotalEnergies, formerly Total, in 2001 after a PhD in polymer physics and graduating from ESPCI in Paris, France, and has worked in R&D since then. From 2011 to 2023, he was the manager of an R&D department working on physical chemistry in the energy industry (Flow Assurance, EOR, Well productivity) and was recognized internally as a “specialist” in Physical Chemistry in 2013, with a focus on asphaltenes, calcium naphthenates, emulsions, foams, and chemicals additives He was also the director of “Physical chemistry of Complex Interfaces” laboratory, a joint laboratory between TotalEnergies, CNRS, and ESPCI from 2015 to 2023. Since the end of 2023, he took the position of R&D Theme leader in “Flow Assurance” within the R&D Deep Offshore Program. His contribution to the field includes about 50 published papers, 65 communications to conferences, and 20 patents.
Nicolas Passade-Boupat
R&D Theme Leader “Flow Assurance” - TOTAL Energies (France)
Session: Challenges in Long Tiebacks
Elizabete Fernandes Lucas is a seasoned chemical engineer with degrees from UFRJ, Brazil, including a D.Sc. in Science and Technology of Polymers obtained in 1994. She transitioned from industry work to academia and is now a full professor at UFRJ. She has led the ISO-certified Laboratory for Macromolecules and Colloids in the Petroleum Industry for three decades. Additionally, she coordinates a scholarships program for the Brazilian Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels, focusing on Polymer Additives and Nanosystems. Her contributions to her field are extensive, including around 300 conference presentations, approximately 200 published papers, authoring two technical books and two specialized dictionaries, and translating two books. She holds five patents, has spearheaded about 30 industry projects, supervised numerous doctoral and master's theses, and is currently advising 11 graduate students.
Elizabete Fernandes Lucas is a seasoned chemical engineer with degrees from UFRJ, Brazil, including a D.Sc. in Science and Technology of Polymers obtained in 1994. She transitioned from industry work to academia and is now a full professor at UFRJ. She has led the ISO-certified Laboratory for Macromolecules and Colloids in the Petroleum Industry for three decades. Additionally, she coordinates a scholarships program for the Brazilian Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels, focusing on Polymer Additives and Nanosystems. Her contributions to her field are extensive, including around 300 conference presentations, approximately 200 published papers, authoring two technical books and two specialized dictionaries, and translating two books. She holds five patents, has spearheaded about 30 industry projects, supervised numerous doctoral and master's theses, and is currently advising 11 graduate students.
Elizabete Lucas
Full Professor - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Session: Oil Field Chemistry and Fluid Characterization
Director of Tulsa University Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP), Paraffin Deposition Projects (TUPDP) and Tulsa University Horizontal Well Artificial Lift Projects (TUHWALP). One of the world's largest experts in Multiphase Flow in Pipes, Flow Assurance, Oil and Gas Production, and Horizontal Wells, author of more than 190 refereed papers with more than 9,000 citations. Member of SPE, ASME, and Turkish Petroleum Engineers Chamber. Advisor of 76 Master of Science in Engineering and 36 Ph.D. Thesis until now.
Director of Tulsa University Fluid Flow Projects (TUFFP), Paraffin Deposition Projects (TUPDP) and Tulsa University Horizontal Well Artificial Lift Projects (TUHWALP). One of the world's largest experts in Multiphase Flow in Pipes, Flow Assurance, Oil and Gas Production, and Horizontal Wells, author of more than 190 refereed papers with more than 9,000 citations. Member of SPE, ASME, and Turkish Petroleum Engineers Chamber. Advisor of 76 Master of Science in Engineering and 36 Ph.D. Thesis until now.
Cem Sarica
Floyd M. Stevenson Distinguished Professor of Petroleum Engineering - The University of Tulsa (USA)
Session: Flow Assurance Management
The Partner-Director and Chief Scientist at ISDB FlowTech holds a bachelor's, master's (PUC-Rio), and doctoral (TU-München, Germany) degrees in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on computational modeling of multiphase flows, and completed a postdoctoral program at PUC-Rio in the same field. He has over 15 years of experience in flow assurance, oil and gas production, and flow simulations. Over the past few years, he has been driving the development of hybrid artificial intelligence solutions for the energy industry. João is also the founder and partner-director of HAI – HybridAI and has led numerous R&D projects and consulting engagements, collaborating with academic institutions and publishing over 60 scientific articles. Additionally, he is actively involved in organizing Flow Assurance sessions at industry conferences and forums.
The Partner-Director and Chief Scientist at ISDB FlowTech holds a bachelor's, master's (PUC-Rio), and doctoral (TU-München, Germany) degrees in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on computational modeling of multiphase flows, and completed a postdoctoral program at PUC-Rio in the same field. He has over 15 years of experience in flow assurance, oil and gas production, and flow simulations. Over the past few years, he has been driving the development of hybrid artificial intelligence solutions for the energy industry. João is also the founder and partner-director of HAI – HybridAI and has led numerous R&D projects and consulting engagements, collaborating with academic institutions and publishing over 60 scientific articles. Additionally, he is actively involved in organizing Flow Assurance sessions at industry conferences and forums.
João Carneiro
Lead Scientist & Managing Partner - ISDB FlowTech
Session: Digital Solutions and Monitoring in Flow Assurance
Call For Papers
SPE Brazil Flow Assurance Technology Congress
All participants are welcome to submit technical paper(s) and discuss your ideas with professionals and students of diverse expertise. All extended abstracts will be evaluated and the accepted works will be compiled in the conference proceedings and presented in the conference, either in the form of oral or poster presentation.
GENERAL TOPICS
CHALLENGES IN LONG TIEBACKS
- Waxes
- Asphaltenes
- Scales
- Hydrates
- Emulsions
CO2 TRANSPORTATION AND GHG REDUCTION
- Multiphase flow
- Lifting
- Boosting
- Subsea Equipment/Architecture
OIL FIELD CHEMISTRY AND FLUID CHARACTERIZATION
- Chemical Additives/Inhibitors
- Thermal management
- Pigging
- Field operations
- Sensors
- Digital Solutions
WELL PERFORMANCE, ARTIFICIAL LIFT AND FLOW TECHNOLOGIES
- Waxes
- Asphaltenes
- Scales
- Hydrates
- Emulsions
FLOW ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT
- Multiphase flow
- Lifting
- Boosting
- Subsea Equipment/Architecture
Digital Solutions and Monitoring in Flow Assurance
- Chemical Additives/Inhibitors
- Thermal management
- Pigging
- Field operations
- Sensors
- Digital Solutions