SPE Brazil
Flow Assurance Technology Congress 2026
Driving value in project development and operational efficiency
NOVEMBER 4th - 6th, 2026
Hotel Hilton Copacabana
Avenida Atlântica, 1020. Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil
Abstract
The Flow Assurance Technology Congress (FATC) remains a premier international event dedicated to advancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of fluid transport in the oil and gas industry. With the 2026 theme, “Driving Value in Project Development and Operational Efficiency,” FATC will highlight the pivotal role of flow assurance in unlocking value throughout all phases of offshore and onshore projects.
The 2024 edition of FATC was a remarkable success, gathering 230 participants from 10 different countries. The event featured more than 100 technical presentations, attracting significant attention from both academia and industry. Special issues in leading scientific journals were published as a result of the high-quality research presented. The congress was further supported by 10 sponsors and showcased innovations and solutions through 5 exhibition stands, reinforcing FATC’s position as a key forum for global collaboration and knowledge exchange.
As the industry faces increasingly complex operational environments, technological innovation and the integration of multidisciplinary expertise have become essential. FATC 2026 will showcase cutting-edge developments in flow assurance, emphasizing solutions that enhance project economics, reduce operational risks, and support long-term asset integrity. The congress will foster collaboration between industry leaders and academia, encouraging knowledge exchange and joint innovation to address current and emerging challenges.
Key topics will include advanced monitoring and data analytics, novel flow technologies, well performance optimization, chemical and fluid characterization, and strategies for effective flow assurance management. By bringing together professionals, researchers, and students from around the world, FATC 2026 provides a unique platform to share insights, develop new technologies, and strengthen the partnership between industry and universities.
Join us in Rio de Janeiro as we drive forward the next generation of flow assurance solutions, focusing on project value and operational excellence for a sustainable future.
Congress Chairs
Marcelo Castro
Congress Technical Chair
Director of CEPETRO
Associate Professor
Prof. Marcelo Castro is a Mechatronics Engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the São Carlos School of Engineering at USP. He is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at UNICAMP. Since 2020, he has served as the Director of the Center for Energy and Petroleum Studies (CEPETRO) at UNICAMP and coordinates the ALFA Research Group focused on Artificial Lift & Flow Assurance. He is involved in research projects funded by companies such as Petrobras, TotalEnergies, Equinor, Petronas, PRIO and by FAPESP.
Prof. Marcelo Castro is a Mechatronics Engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the São Carlos School of Engineering at USP. He is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at UNICAMP. Since 2020, he has served as the Director of the Center for Energy and Petroleum Studies (CEPETRO) at UNICAMP and coordinates the ALFA Research Group focused on Artificial Lift & Flow Assurance. He is involved in research projects funded by companies such as Petrobras, TotalEnergies, Equinor, Petronas, PRIO and by FAPESP.
Elisio Caetano
Honorary Chair
Senior Consultant
Petrobras Research Center (CENPES)
Mechanical Engineer (Unesp - 1975), with a postgraduate degree in Terminal and Pipeline Engineering (Petrobras - 1977), M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering & Energy Planning (COPPE / UFRJ - 1981), and Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering (The University of Tulsa – 1986) . Visiting Professor and Advisor at multiple universities in Brazil and abroad. He is currently a Senior Consultant at Petrobras Research Center (CENPES), specializing in R&D for oil exploitation technology with a focus on multiphase flow and multiphase pumping. He has led significant R&D projects in multiphase pumping and measurement technologies. Recognized for his contributions to the field, he has received numerous awards, including the SPE Brazil Excellence Award in Petroleum Engineering (Production and Operations) in 2017, the SPE Production and Operations Award from SPE Latin America and Caribbean Region in 2018 and the SPE Production and Operations Award from SPE International in 2019. Dr. Elísio has also authored approximately 200 academic publications.
Mechanical Engineer (Unesp - 1975), with a postgraduate degree in Terminal and Pipeline Engineering (Petrobras - 1977), M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering & Energy Planning (COPPE / UFRJ - 1981), and Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering (The University of Tulsa – 1986) . Visiting Professor and Advisor at multiple universities in Brazil and abroad. He is currently a Senior Consultant at Petrobras Research Center (CENPES), specializing in R&D for oil exploitation technology with a focus on multiphase flow and multiphase pumping. He has led significant R&D projects in multiphase pumping and measurement technologies. Recognized for his contributions to the field, he has received numerous awards, including the SPE Brazil Excellence Award in Petroleum Engineering (Production and Operations) in 2017, the SPE Production and Operations Award from SPE Latin America and Caribbean Region in 2018 and the SPE Production and Operations Award from SPE International in 2019. Dr. Elísio has also authored approximately 200 academic publications.
OPENING SESSION
A History of…
Flow Assurance and a Hydrate Blockage Risk Model
Speaker
Elisio Caetano
Honorary Chair
Senior Consultant
Petrobras Research Center (CENPES)
Speaker
Thierry Palermo
Flow Assurance Specialist
Moderator
Adriana Teixeira
Senior Petroleum Chemist
Petrobras
Keynotes Speakers
Lucas Buffon is a Petroleum Engineer with over 14 years of experience in offshore field development, including technical advisory and managerial roles. He holds a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and an Executive MBA from COPPEAD Graduate School of Business.
Throughout his career, He has contributed to the evaluation and development of complex offshore projects, including pre- and post-salt systems and CCUS opportunities. His experience combines flow assurance and production system modeling with a strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary integration across reservoir, wells, subsea, topsides, and GHG reduction teams.
He currently works as Field Development Corporate Manager at Petrobras, supporting project portfolios in flow assurance, artificial lift, and production systems integration. In this role, he plays a key part in technical portfolio management, supporting early-stage opportunity framing and standardization initiatives while ensuring consistent, scalable, and cost-effective solutions across the company.
Lucas Buffon is a Petroleum Engineer with over 14 years of experience in offshore field development, including technical advisory and managerial roles. He holds a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and an Executive MBA from COPPEAD Graduate School of Business.
Throughout his career, He has contributed to the evaluation and development of complex offshore projects, including pre- and post-salt systems and CCUS opportunities. His experience combines flow assurance and production system modeling with a strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary integration across reservoir, wells, subsea, topsides, and GHG reduction teams.
He currently works as Field Development Corporate Manager at Petrobras, supporting project portfolios in flow assurance, artificial lift, and production systems integration. In this role, he plays a key part in technical portfolio management, supporting early-stage opportunity framing and standardization initiatives while ensuring consistent, scalable, and cost-effective solutions across the company.
Lucas Buffon
Field Development Corporate Manager Petrobras (Brazil)
Session: Chalenges in Long Tie Backs
Jorge Trujillo Mercado is Head of Production at Galp, based in Lisbon, Portugal, with more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. His professional and research interests in flow assurance include integrated production modelling, multiphase transport and optimization of deep‑water and ultra‑deep‑water production systems with complex fluid behaviour. His work spans senior technical and leadership roles at Galp, MSi Kenny, and PDVSA Intevep, where he has led flow assurance strategy, production and facility optimization initiatives. Jorge holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering with focus on computational thermo-sciences from LUZ (La Universidad del Zulia) and a Mechanical engineering degree from UNEXPO and has worked extensively on complex hydrocarbon systems and multidisciplinary project delivery.
Jorge Trujillo Mercado is Head of Production at Galp, based in Lisbon, Portugal, with more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. His professional and research interests in flow assurance include integrated production modelling, multiphase transport and optimization of deep‑water and ultra‑deep‑water production systems with complex fluid behaviour. His work spans senior technical and leadership roles at Galp, MSi Kenny, and PDVSA Intevep, where he has led flow assurance strategy, production and facility optimization initiatives. Jorge holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering with focus on computational thermo-sciences from LUZ (La Universidad del Zulia) and a Mechanical engineering degree from UNEXPO and has worked extensively on complex hydrocarbon systems and multidisciplinary project delivery.
Jorge Trujillo Mercado
Head of Production Galp (Portugal)
Session: Flow Assurance Management
Carlos Quintero is currently the Flow Assurance Manager at TotalEnergies EP Angola, supporting deepwater operations across the prolific Block 17 assets (Girassol, Dalia, Pazflor and CLOV). He has more than 20 years of experience spanning research and development, major offshore projects, CCS developments, and field operations, with a strong focus on complex thermohydraulic design, physico-chemical behavior in multiphase flow systems, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategies. Carlos played a key role as Flow Assurance Lead for the Aramis CCS project, one of the largest CO₂ transport systems under development, contributing innovative approaches to the design optimization and operability of a first-of-a-kind anthropogenic CO₂ transport process. He holds a PhD in Physico Chemistry from IFP Energies Nouvelles and Paris Saclay University and is an active contributor to the international Flow Assurance technical community, particularly in the field of CCS and CO₂ transport systems.
Carlos Quintero is currently the Flow Assurance Manager at TotalEnergies EP Angola, supporting deepwater operations across the prolific Block 17 assets (Girassol, Dalia, Pazflor and CLOV). He has more than 20 years of experience spanning research and development, major offshore projects, CCS developments, and field operations, with a strong focus on complex thermohydraulic design, physico-chemical behavior in multiphase flow systems, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategies. Carlos played a key role as Flow Assurance Lead for the Aramis CCS project, one of the largest CO₂ transport systems under development, contributing innovative approaches to the design optimization and operability of a first-of-a-kind anthropogenic CO₂ transport process. He holds a PhD in Physico Chemistry from IFP Energies Nouvelles and Paris Saclay University and is an active contributor to the international Flow Assurance technical community, particularly in the field of CCS and CO₂ transport systems.
Carlos Quintero
Flow Assurance Manager TotalEnergies (France)
Session: CO₂ Transportation and GHG Reduction
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 and ARTIFICIAL LIFT
- Waxes
- Asphaltenes
- Scales
- Hydrates
- Emulsions
FLOW ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT
- Multiphase flow
- Lifting
- Boosting
- Subsea Equipment/Architecture
FLOW TECHNOLOGIES AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS
- Chemical Additives/Inhibitors
- Thermal management
- Pigging
- Field operations
- Sensors
- Digital Solutions