Auctions and new opportunities in the agenda of the last afternoon of Rio Oil & Gas 2018
Rio de Janeiro, September 27, 2018 – In the afternoon on the last day of Rio Oil & Gas, Márcio Félix, executive secretary of the Ministry of Mines & Energy, pointed out that the government and Petrobras are close to closing a deal on the surplus of the onerous assignment agreement, which will allow to tender the area in the first half of 2019. According to Félix, who participated in the last luncheon, this is one of the issues to be addressed, alongside the legal framework that the National Agency of Petroleum (ANP) will soon announce to the natural gas sector, which will leverage such sector.
The secretary also highlighted that the changes adopted in the last two years have already resulted in the resumption of the oil and gas sector, which should receive R$ 300 billion in investments by 2030, according to calculations by the Energy Research Company (EPE).
“We are on the way to solve the onerous assignment issue and we carried out actions such as the adoption of a fixed schedule, the improvement of local content and the return of multiple players to the subsalt, which in just two years created a new dynamics in the industry”, said Felix.
According to the secretary, the new scenario attracted investments and raised R$ 21 billion with the ANP auctions.
Compliance in the oil & gas industry in Brazil
Rafael Mendes, Petrobras’ executive director of Governance and Compliance, spoke at a special session about the US$ 853.2 million agreement that the oil company made with US and Brazilian authorities, announced by the state company on Wednesday. “The agreement puts an end to the investigations. The important thing is that we have turned this page. Now we need to move ahead”, he said.
The Minister of Transparency and Comptroller General, Wagner Rosário, said that the regulatory changes resulting from the Anti-Corruption Act (12,846 / 13) encouraged companies to implement integrity and compliance plans in Brazilian oil and gas industry.
“The fine that might be imposed ranges from 0.1% to 20% of the gross annual revenue of the company. This is enough to make companies think whether it is worth losing so much money or implementing a compliance plan”, said the minister.
A new perspective for the global petrochemical industry
The world is watching today a strategic partnership between two major industries. The giants of the oil and gas sector have been investing in the petrochemical industry, aiming at synergies between their plants. “This is a change of scale for the petrochemical industry”, says Oxiteno’s CEO João Parolin, noting that O&G’s big players gain from risk diversification and a higher return on capital by linking refining activities to petrochemical production. This might be the way to increase competitiveness in the Brazilian market, which production is currently less than 80% of its capacity.
In Brazil there is still a lot of room for growth in this sector, according to Marcelo Cerqueira, Braskem’s vice president. He points out that the major growth fronts of the segment worldwide follow the existence of competitive raw materials, such as shale gas in the United States, and a growing demand, as in China. “We have raw materials. We can replicate what is happening in the US, on a smaller scale”, he said, noting that 69% of the materials used by the industry are imported, such as naphtha.
Another opportunity that arises is in sustainability. Electric cars demand new materials, which can originate from petrochemicals, while conventional cars may have lighter components and, consequently, burn less fuel. Parts of energy-saving lamps also are also obtained derive from petroleum. In addition, material technologies can contribute to circular economy, reducing marine pollution and plastic waste.
New technologies for FPSOs
A recurring subject in the event was the development of new technologies that create opportunities to the industry. Although described as a conservative sector, the subject was discussed in a special session, with presentations of cases showing how to reduce costs and optimize work with the digitization of processes in the oil and gas industry. Fabiano Lobato, head of Equinor Brazil’s Research and Technology Center RJ, mentioned some of the solutions used in his company, which enhanced results and increased the efficiency of operations. According to Lobato, all solutions have contributed to safety, creation of added value and carbon reduction.
Reinaldo Mendes, vice president of Engineering and Technology at Aker Solutions, reinforced the issue cost reduction through technology. “When we talk about sustainability, we speak not only about the environment but also about a healthy financial environment”, he explained. For Mendes, technology providers need to know the best way to use it and how to think of a solution that accelerate the response time and the decision making process of a company.
The future of education and professional accreditation
IBP’s booth received Professor Márcio Pastori, corporate manager of Quality, Safety, Environment and Health (QSMS). The focus of his presentation was the impact of technological changes on education, highlighting ways that educational institutions can adapt using, for example, more dynamic teaching processes. “Using the KSA and IPMA models as a reference, which outline the main skills and abilities of those who work on the platforms, the course has a level of depth intended to prepare professionals for the 21st century”, said the professor.
Carmem Pilar Zabaleta, an IBP engineer and consultant, also contributed speaking about the accrediting competencies, which increasingly necessary to carry out activities in this industry. Carla opposed the trend with the traditional teaching model. “The education industry will rely more and more on certifications and accreditations, mainly because of the high costs of traditional education”, he concluded.