--> Abstract: A Strategic Alliance in Industrial Research to Solve Grand Challenge Problems in Exploration and Production, by U. T. Mello, A. A. Bender, N. C. Azambuja Filho, M. R. Mello, and M. Latge; #90933 (1998).

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Abstract: A Strategic Alliance in Industrial Research to Solve Grand Challenge Problems in Exploration and Production

Mello, Ulisses T. - IBM T. J. Watson Research Center; Bender, Andre A.;Azambuja Filho, N. C.; Mello, Marcio R. and Latge, Marco - Petrobras/Cenpes

The Research and Development Center of Petrobras/CENPES and IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center are joining forces in order to solve technical challenges in the modeling of large-scale geological processes. Three-dimensional basin-wide simulation of generation, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons has a vast potential as a risk assessment tool in petroleum exploration. Realistic simulations have the potential to integrate historical data, geological processes and economics providing a framework for conducting controlled experiments. In order to fulfill this potential, several challenges have to be addressed including the realistic modeling of the evolution of complex geological structures, upscaling, parallel computing, data-mining, numerical simulation, optimization, and 3D visualization. In making this alliance, CENPES and IBM Research use their complementary strengths to address problems that would be difficult to be solved by just one party. This kind of collaboration is beneficial to both research institutions because it is possible to develop innovative solutions by promoting synergy among the many different groups of scientists within the research organizations. CENPES has had numerous successful technological partnerships in the past with the purpose of reducing development costs as well as a means to both leverage its access to new tech- nology and to utilize different experiences and insights. IBM Research has approximately 2,600 employees, with more than half of its researchers holding Ph.D's while CENPES has about 1,500 employees, 16% of whom hold MS and Ph.D degrees. Petrobras' investments in R&D and basic engineering equaled $218 million in 1996 from which $13 million were allocated to joint projects and partnerships with universities and other R&D institutions. IBM invested approximately $4.8 billion in R&D in 1997 and approximately 10% of this amount was spent only in research.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90933©1998 ABGP/AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil