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in drilling and completion of wells in the Brazilian basins and the physical simulation of formation damage. They do work on completion mud composition for the different reservoir characteristics and temperatures, which are vital to guarantee drilling efÞ ciency and safety. Reservoir characterization in the deepwater pre-salt also requires ad- vances in multiple fronts. Better 3D imaging through the salt is a start, and Cenpes also boasts of a state of the art 3D reservoir visualization capability, but the unpredictable carbonate forma- tions always add to the difÞ culties. The complex biological origins of these for- mations make them somewhat unpre- dictable, according to Lomba. A better understanding is needed in how ß uids interact with the rocks when estimating potential reserves, maximizing produc- tion and increasing drilling and produc-tion safety. The level of research spending by Petrobras is not likely to be a limiting factor. Between 2013 and 2020, the 1% rule is expected to generate around $5b in R&D spending in Brazil. These are undoubtedly signiÞ cant numbers for research investments, yet they are hardly a guarantee of positive results and only a continuous effort to research and understand the challenges of deepwater pre-salt reservoir charac- teristics will give any hope of assuring a successful E&P effort by Petrobras. To this end Cenpes Executive Manager, Marcos Assayag explained that its long term strategy, is anchored on technol- ogy development being in line with the business plans, encouragement of high- risk, high-reward project for radical innovations, such as moving towards more production equipment being placed on the seaß oor, yet maintaining a gradual and safe implementation of new technologies. Petrobras and Cenpes are counting on intense cooperation with key research partners such as universities and high technological service providers, many of which are already present or soon will be, at the Rio Technology Center. www.benthos.com Find Your Assets i Ultra Short Base Line (USBL) Positioning i Long Base Line (LBL) Positioning Get Your Data i Modems? Reliable telemetry to 6km range ? Advanced Data Logger Capabilities ? Integrated or Remote Transducer Options? Enhanced Options Available Rely On SYSTEMS that Deliver Acoustic Communication, Positioning & Networking See us at booth OTC 1333 A Teledyne Marine Systems Company (Photo: Claudio Paschoa)www.seadiscovery.com MTR #3 (34-49).indd 37MTR #3 (34-49).indd 374/4/2013 9:21:41 AM4/4/2013 9:21:41 AM