Rector Paulo Cesar Montagner received, this Thursday (10), a visit from representatives of Energi Simulation, a Canadian non-profit foundation that invests globally in research and innovation in the energy sector, and from the Canadian software company Computer Modelling Group (CMG), whose resources financed the establishment of the foundation.
Energi Simulation has 12 chairs around the world and, since 2014, one of them has provided financial support to the Reservoir Simulation and Management Research Group (Unisim), coordinated by Professor Denis Schiozer — a professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering (FEM) and researcher at the Center for Energy and Petroleum Studies (Cepetro).
Through this partnership, 154 graduate students have already received funding. According to Cepetro Director Professor Marcelo Souza de Castro, this support has enabled an increase in the number of students and the quality of research conducted at the center.
Schiozer's research group works in the areas of numerical simulation and oil reservoir management. "We study, for example, the best way to extract oil from the subsurface. We also have projects in the area of CO2 injection."2, the pollution that comes from oil. We reinject the CO2 back underground so that it doesn't remain in the atmosphere. So, we work with both the energy and environmental sectors," the researcher stated.
The Canadian foundation visits Unicamp annually to monitor the progress of the work, said Duke Anderson, president of Energi Simulation. There's interest not only in student training but also in applying research through patent publications and software registration.
"We came to meet the students and ensure we're providing adequate support. One of our most important results is qualified students, who find employment in all types of jobs within the industry," Anderson stated. Both CMG representatives present at the meeting—the regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Victor Salazar, and the regional engineer, Gonçalo Oliveira—are Unicamp alumni.
According to Andrew Seto, vice president of Energi Simulation, petroleum research is important for global energy security, but it is necessary to minimize its environmental impact. Seto added that Schiozer's academic recognition and Feedback Positive feedback from the industry demonstrates Unicamp's good reputation in this area. Montagner emphasized that oil will not be replaced, but will coexist with other energy sources.
"I hope our researchers, professors, and students truly contribute to transforming this important resource into something increasingly cleaner and renewable. This is a huge challenge. Our latest major projects demonstrate that the University has strong maturity in several areas of knowledge. And, in the case of energy, we have a lot technical know-how and we can collaborate with research around the world," he said. In addition to the Unicamp director, the head of the Rector's Office, Osvaldir Pereira Taranto, also participated in the meeting.
