en.Wedoany.com Reported - Petrobrás has officially inaugurated the Brazilian Pre-Salt Technology Center (CTPB) at the Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI) in Minas Gerais. This semi-industrial scale pilot plant is considered one of the most advanced facilities of its kind globally and the only one capable of replicating the high-pressure, high-temperature, and high-carbon dioxide content operating conditions of Brazil's pre-salt layer. Approximately 80 people attended the launch ceremony, including company executives, representatives from the Libra Consortium (Consórcio de Libra), major suppliers, and delegates from the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) and the federal government.
CTPB plays a strategic role in developing the HISEP (High-Pressure Subsea Separation System) project. HISEP is a technology developed by Petrobrás aimed at achieving in-situ subsea separation, enabling the reinjection of carbon dioxide-rich gas into the reservoir, thereby increasing production, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing pre-salt operational efficiency. Petrobrás' Exploration and Production Director, Sylvia Anjos, stated that this is not only a technological milestone but also reflects a strategic choice by the company and its Libra partners to invest in innovation, develop cutting-edge knowledge in Brazil, and transform extreme challenges into transformative technological solutions.
The center was built with an investment of BRL 300 million by Petrobrás and its Libra Consortium partners (Shell Brasil, TotalEnergies, China National Petroleum Corporation, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation), funded by regulatory requirements promoting research and innovation in Brazil. Engineering, Technology, and Innovation Director Renata Baruzzi noted that having a facility in Brazil capable of simulating real pre-salt reservoir conditions directly reflects the company's commitment to innovation and national technological development. She expressed pride in seeing this investment translate into genuine capacity to generate knowledge and value for the country.
Marcel Parentoni, Rector of the Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), stated that the inauguration of CTPB marks the realization of a project that integrates science, technology, and institutional collaboration around Brazil's strategic challenges. He believes the center strengthens the university's focus on applied research and opens new frontiers for training high-level researchers and engineers.
