Young Talents Present Innovative Solutions at the Young Pipeline Awards
On Tuesday (9), three of the six finalists presented their projects at the 1st edition of the Young Pipeline Awards, a competition that recognizes young professionals up to 35 years old who are developing creative solutions for the industry. The award featured a trophy sponsored by the supporters of the Young Rio Pipeline Program, reinforcing their joint commitment to innovation and to empowering the new generation. The remaining finalists will present their work on Wednesday (10), and the winner will be announced on Thursday (11). In total, 570 papers were submitted for this edition.
Caroline Reis, an industrial chemist from UFRJ, with a postgraduate degree in Pipeline Engineering from PUC-Rio and a logistics solutions specialist at NTS, presented the Saqgas project. The initiative involves a computational simulation study for the strategic replacement of inline chromatographs, with the potential to generate approximately R$1 million per year in OPEX savings (considering the annual cost of R$50,000 per equipment, excluding labor), in addition to significant CAPEX savings, since commissioning a new piece of equipment costs around R$1 million.
Demétrio Marques, a chemical engineer from UFMA, with a postgraduate degree in Industrial Process Engineering from PUC Minas and a mid-level pipeline integrity engineer at Hydro, presented a project focused on optimizing the methodology for managing the integrity of slurry pipelines, through the use of finite element analysis and rupture tests.
Narelly Matos, a chemical engineer from UFRJ, postgraduate student in Industrial Process Engineering at IPETEC, and member of TAG’s technical operations board in project implementation, presented a socially oriented project aimed at mitigating vulnerabilities in communities located near the company’s pipeline network.
The Young Pipeline Awards is just one of the initiatives of the Young Rio Pipeline Program, which features a dedicated space with programming tailored for young professionals. Highlights include the participation of students without employment ties in the congress, ensuring access and learning opportunities for those taking their first steps in the industry. Another highlight is the hackathon, where young participants developed solutions for a real case from the sector. The teams will present their pitches on Wednesday (10) at 2 p.m., and the winning duo will be announced on Thursday (11), receiving a prize of R$5,000.
