Petrobras carries out scientific expedition in the region from the Equatorial Margin of Amapá to Rio Grande do Norte – News of Brazil

Researchers from Petrobras, from the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB) and ten universities from states that make up the geographic region of the Equatorial Margin, as well as two research institutions from the Southeast, embarked, on March 30, for a scientific expedition, on the Hydroceanographic Research Ship (NPqHo) “Vital de Oliveira”, operated by the Brazilian Navy. For thirty days, scientists with different lines of research will be on board the vessel, mainly focused on in-depth studies on the region’s marine geology. The Equatorial Margin extends from Rio Grande do Norte to Amapá and is considered the new and most promising exploratory frontier in deep waters.

— This is the second expedition we have carried out in the area. Now we will intensify studies and update data. In the future, we will apply technologies that were used in the Santos Basin, such as artificial intelligence, drones and remote sensing to produce knowledge of this environment and share this opportunity with academia and other institutions, especially with local research groups — says the company’s president, Jean Paul Prates.

This year’s expedition was expanded: from eight to 28 scientists and from two to 12 universities.

Petrobras continually seeks to establish partnerships with research institutions, aiming to generate and expand knowledge about the regions where it operates. Much of the knowledge we have today about the marine ecosystems of the Campos and Santos basins was made possible by Petrobras. — We want to do the same on the Equatorial Margin, generating scientific information relevant to our projects and academic research, thus contributing to national Science — explains Carlos Travassos, director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation at Petrobras.

Based on the results of this expedition, the scientific community will be able to obtain more information and monitor the relevant environmental components of the Equatorial Margin, such as habitats and sensitive biological groups, a fundamental step for future environmental programs that will allow Petrobras to generate biodiversity gains in the regions where it operates.

The studies will be carried out by collecting material between 130 and 800 meters deep, around 150 kilometers from the coast, in the maritime portion of Amapá. — This is one of the advantages of associated research, since few institutions have the appropriate means to carry out expeditions like this — highlights Travassos.

Research laboratory — The “Vital de Oliveira” ship is a modern maritime research platform, built to identify and record, in detail, the natural resources existing in Brazilian waters. Capable of mapping data from the atmosphere, ocean, marine soil and subsoil, it meets the main demands of the national scientific community in the various areas of marine science, such as oceanography, marine biology, geology and meteorology.

It has already carried out 85 trips along the entire Brazilian coast and embarked researchers from 44 scientific and academic institutions. The ship is a complex onboard laboratory and one of the most complete hydroceanographic data acquisition platforms in the world. It houses a crew of 90 soldiers and can accommodate up to 40 researchers.

The vessel is subordinate to the Hydroceanographic Vessel Group, of the Hydrography and Navigation Directorate (DHN) of the Brazilian Navy. The ship pays homage to the patron saint of Brazilian Hydrography, Frigate Captain Manoel Antônio Vital de Oliveira.

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