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Given the complexity and high costs associated to ultra deepwater drilling, any effort to avoid unforeseen situations is beneficial. Initiatives to optimize the drilling process in real-time are extremely important. This article details the experience of 6 year operating a real-time software with the focus of anticipating the detection of potential drilling problems in challenging scenarios. Based on transient numerical simulation (hydraulics, cutting transport, torque and drag, etc.), the software automatically identifies operational problems in real-time, providing to the rig crew anticipated information, so that, corrective and/or preventive actions can be taken. The software incorporate relevant experimental and theoretical research developed in multiple Brazilian universities and R&D Centers. It receives surface and downhole data in real-time, as well as, simulates comprehensive models (which considers real data, fluid properties, well and drilling column geometry as inputs) in order to analyze the current drilling status, by comparing real and calculated (expected) data, with quantitative criteria. Dedicated decision trees, validated by a representative group of senior drillers, provide reliable indication for problem alerts. The present paper aims to detail the successes and the difficulties of detecting typical drilling problems in Campos and Santos basins (offshore Brazil). The process of algorithm development, validation and field implementation is detailed. In July 2014, after almost 10 years of development, the use of the application started as a service conducted by a drilling engineering team, on a 24x7 service in Petrobras Real Time Support Center. Since then, it monitored every Petrobras offshore well. According to estimates, the economy by using this real-time program reached almost 150 rig days, which is equivalent to approximately US$ 130 MM. In 2016, The iniciative was granted the Technological Innovation ANP (Brazilian National Petroleum Agency) Award as recognition by its relevant results. This software is in a continuous development process, aiming to acquire new analyses in order to increasingly help the Petrobras drilling operations. The novelty is the usage of numerical simulation in order to withdraw the subjectivity of a qualitative data analysis, avoiding the misinterpretation of a possible operational event. Present challenges include the proposal of hybrid solutions (modeling + machine learning) to tackle the identification of complex problems (such as false kicks, stuck pipe in salt drilling and circulation loss prediction).

Given the complexity related to deepwater drilling with narrow operational windows, any effort to increase the confidence on the safety guidelines should be encouraged. There are many procedures in MPD operations that can be verified and validated during the operations, in order to avoid unforeseen situations. As initiatives to optimize the drilling process in real time are extremely important, the present study focuses on the development of specific methodologies to support MPD operations, which are implemented on a real time drilling diagnosis software [5]. It is very useful to review the drilling plan in various situations. With the use of MPD monitoring module is possible to obtain, from the DPPT (Dynamic Pore Pressure Test) and DFIT (Dynamic Formation Integrity Test) procedures, more precise values to compose the operating window. As a consequence of appliying it together with precise hydraulics, cutting transport and torque and drag models, the developed methodology proposes, as output, the ideal operating parameters, such as choke pressure, pump flow rate or adjustments related to the drilling fluid properties. The methodology always considers the best approach to meet the restrictions imposed by the operational window, avoiding drilling problems. Alternatively, if a change on the operating parameters is not sufficient, it also simulates the best position for the Anchor Point. The developed methodology was successfully applied in a number of MPD wells recently drilled in distinct deepwater locations, in Brazil. The real time optimization procedures proposed in the present paper are a further step to ensure the reliability of MPD operations in challenging scenarios, aiming enhanced efficiency and safety.

Lung cancer is one of the most incident types of cancer and a leading cause of cancer mortality in Brazil. We reviewed the current status of lung cancer by searching relevant data on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in the country. This review highlights several issues that need to be addressed, including smoking control, patient lack of awareness, late diagnosis, and disparities in the access to cancer health care facilities in Brazil. We propose strategies to help overcome these limitations and challenge health care providers, as well as the society and governmental representatives, to work together and to take a step forward in fighting lung cancer. RESUMO O câncer de pulmão é um dos tipos de câncer com maior incidência e uma das principais causas de mortalidade por câncer no Brasil. Revisamos a situação atual do câncer de pulmão por meio de pesquisa de dados relevantes a respeito de prevenção, diagnóstico e tratamento no país. Esta revisão mostra várias questões que precisam de atenção, tais como controle do tabagismo, educação dos pacientes, desconhecimento por parte dos pacientes, diagnóstico tardio e desigualdade de acesso ao tratamento de câncer no Brasil. Propomos estratégias para ajudar a superar essas limitações e desafiamos os profissionais de saúde, a sociedade e os representantes do governo a trabalhar em conjunto e dar um passo à frente na luta contra o câncer de pulmão.

The majority of oil and refined-product pipelines in Brazil have their protection system designs based on spring-type pressure relief valves. Thus, the proper design and operation of these valves is essential to ensure the safety of transport pipelines and loading/unloading terminals during any abnormal operation conditions that generate a surge pressure. In simple terms, these valves have a disk which is pressed by a spring against the inlet nozzle of the valve. When the pressure rises, the force generated on the surface of the disc increases and, depending on the pressure relief valve set point, the force due to pressure overcomes the force exerted by the spring, causing the disk to rise and discharge the fluid through the outlet nozzle to the relief line, reducing the pressure level within the pipeline. Despite its importance, most commercial applications do not present a specific model to simulate the transient behavior of pressure relief valves. This paper presents an experimental study aimed at determining the dynamic behavior of a commercial spring-type relief valve. The valve was installed in a pipe loop instrumented with pressure and flow transducers. The transient motion of the valve disc was measured with a fast-response displacement transducer. The transient in the flow loop was generated by the controlled closing of a block valve positioned downstream of the relief valve. The recorded transient data for disc position, upstream and downstream pressures, and discharge flow rates were used to compute the discharge coefficient as a function of opening fraction and the opening fraction as a function of time. Simulation models based on a spring-mass damped system were developed and implemented in a PID-actuator-control valve system. The systems were implemented in a commercial pipeline simulation program modeling the experimental loop employed in the tests. The numerical and experimental data of the block valve closure transient were compared displaying good agreement. Simulations results employing a generic relief valve model frequently used in simulations were also obtained revealing problems associated with this approach.Copyright © 2012 by ASME