On November 18, 2022, CEPETRO news outlet published a piece about the 5th EPIC Conference. The piece highlights that, in addition to being vital for energy security in the coming decades, knowledge competencies in the area of oil and gas are applicable and necessary for the energy transition.
Considering the urgency of the energy transition, renewable energies tend to be promoted as the only solution to mitigate the impacts of rising global temperatures and climate change. This not only does not fully reflect reality, but it is also leading students to lose interest in careers related to the oil and gas sector – a sector that will remain active for decades (given its importance to energy security) and whose knowledge competencies are applicable and necessary for the energy transition.
Essas foram algumas das principais conclusões da mesa-redonda “The future of the oil and gas industry in Brazil in times of energy transition“, realizada durante a 5ª EPIC Conference que ocorreu nos dias 13 e 14 de novembro, em Campinas (SP). O evento foi promovido pelo Centro de Inovação em Produção de Energia (EPIC), sediado no Centro de Estudos de Energia e Petróleo (CEPETRO) da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). As discussões envolveram especialistas da Equinor Brasil, da Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (ANP), da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp) e do CEPETRO, com mediação do diretor científico do EPIC, prof. Denis Schiozer.
In general, students see the oil and gas sector as an area heading toward extinction, with no potential for future job creation. Prof. Marcelo Souza de Castro, director of CEPETRO, stated that at the research center and other affiliated centers, the number of renewable energy projects has been increasing. However, research on oil and gas still predominates, given the continuity of this industry's activities to meet global energy needs. Therefore, optimizing production in the sector, aiming at decarbonization, is vital.
On the other hand, the industry is no longer restricted to activities related to oil and gas. According to Andrea Achôa, manager of R&D at Equinor Brasil, the company's long-term investments are focused on both oil and gas and renewables.
“Estamos enfrentando uma lacuna de estudantes em engenharia de forma geral e em outras disciplinas importantes para o setor de óleo de gás e a transição energética. Precisamos pensar em como podemos trazer os estudantes de volta à universidade”, alertou o diretor do CEPETRO. Rodolfo Jardim de Azevedo, presidente do Conselho Curador da Fapesp, lembrou que, além do desinteresse pelas engenharias, há a competição de outros setores da economia, como bancos, por exemplo, no recrutamento de engenheiros. E isso só agrava o problema.
The solution, according to the R&D manager at Equinor Brasil, is to improve communication with the younger generation, showing that careers in the energy sector, including oil and gas, play an important role in society.
Similar Competencies – Raphael Moura, superintendente de Tecnologia e Meio Ambiente da ANP, citou um estudo internacional de uma empresa de inteligência de mercado que comparou aspectos de engenharia entre as indústrias. “Eles descobriram que a indústria eólica offshore, a de hidrogênio e a de biocombustíveis têm processos de engenharia bastante semelhantes aos da indústria de óleo e gás. As mesmas tecnologias, os mesmos profissionais, os mesmos softwares de simulação, e assim por diante”, disse.
De todo o modo, o futuro depende da formação de mais profissionais em STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), como apontou o prof. Alejandro Escalona Varela, da Universidade de Stavanger, da Noruega – o primeiro keynote speaker do evento. Em seu país, devido à escassez de profissionais, a indústria vem recrutando candidatos sem a devida qualificação; as universidades e os institutos de pesquisa estão começando a perder suas competências, novas pesquisas param ou nunca são implementadas; e as competências sobre reservatórios estão desaparecendo. Um país como a Noruega, disse, pode rapidamente perder sua liderança na área de petróleo por causa disso.
For the superintendent of Technology and Environment at ANP, regarding the energy transition, the challenge is to have a collaborative ecosystem, with open innovation and startups to provide quick solutions. And, of course, the regulatory framework needed to enable new technologies.
Relação academia-indústria – A colaboração entre a academia e a indústria foi assunto de outra mesa-redonda (Closing the gap between industry and academia), que reuniu especialistas da Shell; do instituto NORCE (Noruega); da Texas A&M (EUA); e da Equinor, sob mediação do diretor do CEPETRO.
Alexandre Breda, manager of Low Carbon Technology at Shell, highlighted four aspects he considers fundamental to this relationship: an interdisciplinary approach, capable of integrating researchers from different areas; an innovation ecosystem to foster the creation of spin-offs; transparent and clear communication, aiming at common goals; and choosing the technologies (among the many being researched) with the greatest chances of success, those that will truly stand out.
Michael King from Texas A&M emphasized the importance of meetings between academics and industry professionals. Through these meetings, a common understanding (of ideas, challenges, and needs) is achieved, facilitating the joint development of projects and building trust. Among the challenges, he mentioned the importance of defining goals and steps towards them, ensuring that fundamental knowledge is well established, and advancing realistically step by step, discussing project results, reviewing plans, and next steps. For Ingebret Fjeld of NORCE, when a project is long-term, it is possible to build fundamental knowledge. Otherwise, it is better to seek a partner who already has it.
Article reproduced from: https://www.cepetro.unicamp.br/epic_conf-2023.html
