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ExxonMobil and CEPETRO Develop Innovative Tools to Simulate Oil Reservoirs with High Precision.
The Center for Energy and Petroleum Studies (CEPETRO), from Unicamp, has initiated an unprecedented research project in partnership with ExxonMobil Brazil. The initiative, which began in July 2025 and will last for four years, aims to develop cutting-edge computational tools to simulate, more accurately, the behaviors of oil and natural gas reservoirs.
With funding from ExxonMobil, through the mandatory investments in R&D in Brazil, the project mobilizes a multidisciplinary team from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism (FECFAU) of Unicamp, under the leadership of Professor Philippe Devloo.
Tools for Multiscale Challenges in Oil Wells
The first line of research focuses on modeling the interaction between well and reservoir. Led by Philippe Devloo, the proposal is to create tools capable of accurately representing tiny structures, such as wells with a diameter of 25 centimeters, within reservoirs that extend over kilometers.
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“It’s a multiscale problem. Generally, reservoir models do not include well geometry with the necessary resolution, which compromises the utility of the simulation for the well engineer”, explains Devloo.
The modeling aims to estimate how production or injection affects properties such as porosity, temperature, and stress.
Hydraulic Fracturing: New Generation of Computational Simulation
The second front of the project, coordinated by Nathan Shauer, deals with the modeling of hydraulic fracturing, a technique that injects fluids under high pressure to open fissures in porous rocks.
The challenge is to monitor this process at great depths. “The problem occurs several kilometers deep, where the fracture is not visible. Knowing where it is, how it propagated, is essential for making decisions about pumping time, type of fluid, and other operational parameters”, emphasizes Shauer.
The work will include the evolution of a three-dimensional software with experimental validation, created during Shauer’s doctorate, now adapted for more complex industrial applications.
CO₂ Injection and Geological Risks in Reservoirs
Coordinated by Thiago Dias dos Santos, the third line focuses on the injection of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into underground reservoirs, a practice used both for oil recovery and carbon sequestration.
Despite the environmental benefits, the behavior of CO₂ is still uncertain. “CO₂ is an extremely complex gas. It can form salts that clog pores, change acidity, and even interfere with the quality of oil”, states Devloo.
The goal is to create tools that simulate these effects more accurately, anticipating risks and providing a basis for safer operational decisions.
Seismic Risk and Reactivation of Geological Faults
The fourth strand, led by Gustavo Henrique Siqueira, studies the impacts of fluid production and injection on the reactivation of geological faults.
Nathan Shauer explains: “These faults have been under stress for thousands of years. When the balance is altered, even minimally, slippage can occur and cause a tremor”.
Based on this, models will be developed to predict these events and substantiate preventive measures, especially in sensitive regions.
ExxonMobil Bets on Innovation for the Oil Industry
By financially supporting the CEPETRO project, ExxonMobil reinforces its commitment to technological innovation and operational safety in the oil sector.
The tools generated over the next few years have the potential to transform how engineers model, evaluate, and make decisions about operations in oil fields.
In this way, Brazil and ExxonMobil move forward together toward a more efficient, safe, and sustainable industry.
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