BG Brazil signed a partnership for the establishment of an advanced (G-RAP) laboratory oil recovery in the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering (Coppe) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Among the objectives of the initiative, which has an investment of approximately US$ 35 million from the oil and gas company, is the development and installation of advanced equipment at UFRJ and training of researchers through the BG Brazil Fellowship Programme, which offers scholarships complementary to the Science without Borders International federal government program. The project will support the Herriot Watt University, a leading British universities in teaching and research in the oil and gas industry engineering.

The need to improve the recovery factor of oil and associated acceleration of production is the main subject of research related to enhanced oil recovery in the world. The topic has great relevance for BG Brazil, as shall contribute to the development of technologies that can be used both in the pre-salt basin and in Barreirinhas, where the company is operating in ten blocks. The opening of the G-RAP is scheduled for 2014. Project coordinator at COPPE/ UFRJ is teacher Paulo Couto, the Civil Engineering Program.