According to IBP secretary general, Milton Costa Filho, one of institute’s priorities is to offer support to industry priority agenda, promoting the debate about energy transition and its impacts on markets and companies. “Oil and gas are important energy sources to global demands, however, we know in the future we will have a diversity of energy sources. That’s why, considering the future of our country, one of IBP’s priorities is to boost the pre-salt production and use all of its resources to establish a new energy matrix to Brazil”, pointed Milton.

Associated Members Welcome Coffee

The challenges and impacts to oil and gas company in an energy transition framework was the subject of an exclusive welcome coffee to IBP associate members, held on February 4, at institute main office. Hosting Kenny Hawsey, PwC Global Energy Tax Leader and Øistein Johannessen, Equinor Head of Communications, the meeting gathered several oil and gas companies’ executives to share knowledge and to discuss how companies will prepare to keep up with the changes in an energy transition scenario.

The strategic changes of oil and gas companies to respond the energy transition, including renewable energy to its portfolio, needs to be matured internally and them, developed according to the company’s expertise, as affirmed Øistein Johannessen, citing Equinor as an example. The executive alarmed about the future of oil and gas companies. “We are going to see an increase in the use of oil and gas in electricity and a reduction of hydrocarbons in transportation, definitely. We will see more strict regulations, high carbon barriers. We have to reduce our carbon emissions to be more competitive”, concluded.

Young people debate

Young professionals of the sector and students brought together to chat with Kenny Hawsey, Global Energy Tax Leader of PWC. As a partnership between IBP and PwC, the meeting brought up the theme The future of the oil and gas industry and opportunities to young professionals and addressed to the young people the perspectives about the impacts of technological trends at the job market.

According to the executive, what will change the young people jobs, in the next five years, will be technology. For him, the technological advance does not represent loss of jobs, though a change in the way of working, living and operating.

Hawsey also highlighted the need of constantly learning, digital above all, as a distinguishing and disruptive manner. “Every day, we need to challenge ourselves. How do I do things differently? How do I do better? Because, if I don’t discover someone else will and will command me. Think in disruption. Think in how each one of you will keep improving”, advised.

Global Oil Outlook 2019

In an exclusive event to IBP associated members, the institute in partnership with S&P Global Platts, organized the Global Oil Outlook 2019, to present the latest trends and thoughts on the oil market for 2019. Mark Schwartz, S&P Global Platts Director of Strategy and Analytics, addressed the perspectives to global oil and gas market, likewise perceptions about Latin America market.

“This moment couldn’t be more propitious to prepare an event like that. The Brazilian oil and gas industry is experiencing a period of complex political and opportunity change that has not been seen since the late 1990s”, said Alberto Guimarães, IBP downstream executive secretary. “The IBP, in partnership with authorities and other agents of the sector, works to create an adequate and safe environment to attract investments, allowing Brazil to develop its large oil reserves”, added.

Other aspect reveled for Schwartz as the impact of the new regulation of International Maritime Organization (IMO), which starts at 2020, at global oil and refined products markets. According to him, global specifications for bunker fuels are likely to become restricts from the next year, leading to disruptive changes inside and outside the oil industry.

“The changes at specifications will be applied despite the counter-arguments, so, it is unlikely that the new regulation will be postponed. Our understanding is that the industry will meet the new rules as multiple forces will drive greater compliance”, said Schwartz.

The increase in the number of fields operated by different companies motivated the debate, which highlighted the appropriate regulation for the new scenario of the transportation market. Kjetil Solbraekke, Rystad Energy’s vice-president for Latin-America, remembered that, in Brazil, gas is 5 times more expensive due to infrastructure, and added that he will “depend on the legislation to know who will benefit the most from the opportunities. Brazil has the chance to regulate correctly”.

For Subsea 7 marketing vice-president, Paulo Cesar Martins, Brazil must prepare for the market’s recovery. “We’re on the right track regarding regulation, but we need to improve it to meet the domestic demand of growing gas production in Brazil”, he said.

Youth Professional Program fills auditorium with debate about O&G workforce

On the second day of Rio Pipeline 2017, the Youth Professional Program, dedicated to promoting, attracting and integrating students to the oil and gas industry, filled the auditorium with college students and gathered Human Resources and industry experts to talk about the O&G workforce and market opportunities.

Organized by IBP’s Youth Committee, the first session had the participation of OTC’s Chairman, Wafik Beydoun, who reinforced the importance of skills beyond the technical area for professional success. “It’s very important to develop the side you’re not used to dealing with. Behavior and communication, for example, are not skills you learn at university, but are just as important”, he emphasized.

According to Alessandra Simões, headhunter and partner at Uphill, you must think strategically about your career. “The student needs to invest in himself while he’s in college, and features such as communicability and attitude have been very sought in candidates”, she said.

Cristiano Pereira, UFF’s student and Youth Committee member, was in the audience of the 2015 edition and came back this year as a speaker to tell how his perspective on the market changed after the experience. “I didn’t pass my first interview for being too shy. Today, after what I’ve learned at events like this, such as the importance of networking, my career took a different path and I’m here talking to young people who can change too”, he remembered.

Rio Pipeline 2017 is sponsored by Petrobras; Rosen; Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil (TBG); Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS); Mattos Filho Advogados; and Tory-Tech.

The event is held until Thursday, October 26, in Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro.

For Rio Pipeline’s Chairman, Marcelino Guedes, the subject is fundamental, because the pipeline system is extremely important for the exploration process. “The pipeline operation cannot fail. If this happens, it affects people and the environment, so the investment in security technologies is essential”, he affirmed.

According to Marcelo Rennó Gomes, consultant, the discussion has to be constant to keep the quality of the sector. “New technologies are important to ensure the safety of the workforce, the environment and the continuity of the business. That is why the investment must be large in this field”, he explained at the panel on challenges and innovations.

The lecture also had the presence of Pipeline Research Council International’s (PRCI) president, Cliff Johnson, who explained that pipelines are seen as the main causes of accidents in the industry and, for that, there must always be investments in security. “If we do a good job, no one will know who we are. If we miss, we become the center of attention. For that reason, we must always do our best and stay “out of sight”, he emphasized.

New partnerships and young professionals

During the event, the Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute (IBP) has signed cooperation agreements with five associations: Abendi (Brazilian Association of Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection), Abraco (Brazilian Association of Corrosion), ABCM (Brazilian Association of Mechanical Sciences), FBTS (Brazilian Foundation of Welding Technology) and Abraman (Brazilian Association of Maintenance and Asset Management).

For IBP’s secretary general, Milton Costa Filho, the agreement will contribute significantly and bring value to the Institute’s members. “Many of these associations were born in IBP, which turns 60 years-old in November. All the changes that are happening in the industry and in Brazil impact our associations and now we must look to the future, because there’s a lot we can do”, he said. “Let’s join hands and go to work”, he complemented.

At the Knowledge Arena, students who aspire to careers in the field could listen and talk to young people who work in the industry. Young Pipeline Professionals (YPP)’ representatives shared experiences from the segment with the participants, pointing out the importance of keeping the young audience engaged.

Rio Pipeline 2017 is sponsored by Petrobras; Rosen; Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil (TBG); Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS); Mattos Filho Advogados; and Tory-Tech.

The event is held until Thursday, October 26, in Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro. The registration will be open online at the link.