Two decades of proven results in drilling: the ESSS-Petrobras partnership
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Published on: 02/09/2026
How two decades of real-time monitoring delivered over $330 million in savings and safer operations
In the oil and gas sector, long-term partnerships are built on more than technology alone, they are forged through measurable results and mutual trust. The collaboration between ESSS and Petrobras in the development and operation of PWDa (Pressure While Drilling Analyzer) spans more than 20 years and has transformed the way oil well drilling operations are monitored in Brazil.
The origins of a long-term collaboration
Since the early 2000s, ESSS has worked closely with Petrobras to develop and operate PWDa, a real-time digital twin that tracks every hole section of offshore well drilling. The partnership emerged from a clear operational challenge: reducing operational costs while increasing safety and efficiency in deepwater drilling.
In offshore drilling, the cost of unplanned downtime is extremely high. A drilling rig stopped due to operational problems can generate millions in losses within days, not counting equipment loss risks and potential environmental impacts. This is where predictive monitoring makes the difference.
$333 Million in proven savings
The results are concrete. Over a twelve-year period, PWDa helped Petrobras achieve $333 million in savings by preventing operational failures that could have led to unplanned downtime, loss of drilling equipment, and costs associated with emergency operations.
The system identifies problems in real time, including washouts, fluid losses, kicks, poor hole cleaning, and casing wear. When identified early, these events can be mitigated before escalating into critical situations and prolonged drilling stoppages.
Driller screen on PWDa
Recognition within the Oil & Gas industry
In 2016, the ESSS–Petrobras collaboration on PWDa received the ANP (Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels) Technological Innovation Award. The project was recognized in the category of technological innovation developed in Brazil by small and medium-sized companies in collaboration with oil operators.
The award acknowledged PWDa as one of the first solutions in the global oil and gas industry to provide real-time interpretation of operational problems during well drilling, combining transient calculations with automated data analysis methodology.
Trust proven across different offshore basins
From the Búzios field to the Equatorial Margin, across dozens of Brazilian offshore basins, PWDa continuously monitors Petrobras’ drilling operations. ESSS currently operates a dedicated 24/7 monitoring team in every well being drilled, ensuring that two decades of accumulated expertise are translated into safer and more efficient drilling operations.
This permanent presence — four drilling engineers working in continuous shifts at the Real-Time Operation Center in Macaé — represents more than technical monitoring. It reflects a partnership where operational reliability and environmental safety are treated as top priorities.
A partnership that delivers measurable results
Twenty years of collaboration in oil drilling are not sustained by advanced technology alone. They are built on consistent delivery, continuous innovation, and a shared commitment to operational excellence. ESSS and Petrobras demonstrate how long-term strategic partnerships, grounded in trust and proven performance, are essential to address the growing complexity of offshore drilling.
Fabio Rodrigues holds a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Fabio’s experience spans 11 years in the R&D sector and 9 years with drilling operations applying simulation for a drilling digital twin. Fabio has been working at ESSS since 2014 connecting oil companies, universities, and research institutions to ESSS in order to develop R&D projects related to simulation and new software technologies.
