For the second time GIMSCOP / UFRGS + PETROBRAS were finalists of the ANP awards. This year the ceremony was held on November 28, 2019 at the Itamaraty Palace in Rio de Janeiro. In this edition, 147 projects were the result of projects from five oil companies, more than 20 other Brazilian technology companies and more than 40 accredited institutions with several laboratory units – see ANP’s article.
Profs. Marcelo Farenzena and Jorge Otávio Trierweiler represented the entire GIMSCOP team in the cerimony.

Finalist Work Description

Title: WellBot – Autonomous Things (AuT) Applied to Oil Wells
Summary: An autonomous well operating system has been developed to minimize losses. The system, named WellBot, allows to enter unstable areas and drive the well in search of maximum production without the need for human intervention. WellBot algorithms consist of the combination of artificial intelligence techniques and advanced process control. In an analogy to the autonomous car concept, the controller can be viewed as the automobile, while the artificial intelligence algorithm can be viewed as the “virtual driver”.
The WellBot methodology is based on an adaptive expert algorithm that diagnoses what is happening in the well and makes decisions regarding the set point change of a feedback control system. The control system consists of a supervisory layer of predictive algorithms (MPC) and a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) -based regulatory layer. In addition, the WellBot has protective layers for safe operation and position the well at overpressure-free operating points if necessary without causing interlocks.

Team pictures at the event

Click here to know how was the GIMSCOP’s first achievement in the ANP award that took place in 2017.