Summary Methane hydrates and paraffin plugs on flexible lines are concerns in offshore production. They may stop wells for months, causing high financial losses. Sometimes, operators use depressurization techniques for hydrate removal. Another strategy is using coiled tubing or a similar unit to perform local heating or solvent injection. However, frequently these strategies are not successful. In those cases, a rig may perform the operation, or the line may be lost. We developed a robotic system to perform controlled local heating and remove obstructions. The system developed can access the line from the production platform. It uses a self-locking system to exert high traction forces. An umbilical with neutral buoyancy and low friction coefficient allows significant friction reduction. It allows moving upward and in pipes with a large number of curves. Coiled tubing and similar units cannot do that. Carbon fiber vessels and compact circuits give the flexibility to move inside 4-in. flexible pipes. In addition, a novel theoretical model allows the cable traction calculation using an evolution of the Euler-Eytelwein equation. Experimental tests validated this model using curved pipes, both empty and filled with fluid, and using different loads. Experimental tests also confirmed the external layer traction resistance. Furthermore, the carbon fiber vessels were pressure tested, indicating a collapse resistance of 57 MPa (8,300 psi). Besides, exhaustive tests of the onboard electronics and the surface control system guarantee the communication reliability. In addition, a theoretical model allowed the design of the 25 kN (5.6 kip) traction system considering the self-locking system, the contact with the wall, and a diameter range. Four prototypes allowed us to compare hydraulic and electric drive systems, validate the self-locking mechanism up to its limit, analyze the hydraulic system for leg opening and translation, and prove the traction capacity. Finally, a theoretical model allowed the local heating system and the temperature to increase. The experimental validation of the system on a cooled environment demonstrated its ability to increase temperature. Further, it allowed the obstruction removal in a controlled manner, avoiding damage to the polymeric layer of the flexible line.

ResumoA economia está em constante evolução e os ativos intangíveis estão ganhando espaço e importância na continuidade de negócio das organizações. O conhecimento e a informação são os principais ativos das empresas, tornando-se estes um diferencial competitivo. Diante da dependência que as empresas possuem destes ativos, deve-se trata-los de forma sistêmica e estratégica. A Gestão do Conhecimento surge nesse cenário com o intuito de estruturar o conhecimento organizacional, fazendo com que ele seja utilizado como um diferencial competitivo. A Segurança da Informação tem como objetivo a proteção das informações que circulam nas organizações, fazendo com que os riscos sejam mitigados. Esse estudo buscou identificar o grau de maturidade e conformidade dos processos de uma cooperativa médica no que tange Gestão do Conhecimento e Segurança da Informação, de acordo com metodologias já existentes. AbstractThe economy is constantly evolving, and intangible assets are gaining ground and becoming more important for organizations to continue doing business. Knowledge and information are the main assets of companies, which turns them into a competitive advantage. Given the dependence that companies have on these assets, they have to be treated in a systematic and strategic manner. Knowledge Management has arisen in this scenario in order to structure organizational knowledge, causing it to be used as a competitive advantage. Information security aims to protect the information circulating within organizations, so that risks are mitigated. The aim of this study is to identify the degree of maturity and compliance of the processes of a medical cooperative, regarding Knowledge Management and Information Security, in accordance with currently existing methodologies.

Methane Hydrates and Paraffin Plugs in flexible lines are concerns in offshore production. They may stop wells for months, causing high financial losses. Sometimes, operators use depressurization techniques for hydrate removal. Other strategy is using coiled tubing or a similar unit in order to perform local heating or solvent injection. However, frequently these strategies are not successful. In those cases, a rig may perform the operation or the line may be lost. This project developed a robotic system in order to perform a controlled local heating and remove obstructions. The robotic system developed is able to access the line from the production platform. It uses a self-locking system in order to exert high traction forces. An umbilical with neutral buoyancy and low friction coefficient allows significant drag reduction. It allows moving upwards and in pipes with a large number of curves. Coiled tubing and similar units cannot do that. Carbon fiber vessels and compact circuits give flexibility to move inside 4-inch flexible pipes. A novel theoretical model allows the cable traction calculation using an evolution of the Euler-Eytelwein equation. Experimental tests validated this model using curved pipes, both empty and filled with a fluid and using different loads. Experimental tests also validated the external layer traction resistance. Furthermore, the carbon fiber vessels were pressure tested, indicating a collapse resistance of more than 550 bar (8.000 psi). In addition, exhaustive tests of the onboard electronics and of the surface control system guarantee the communication reliability. Additionally, the 25 kN (5.6 kip) traction system was modeled theoretically considering the self-locking system, the contact with the wall and a diameter range. Four prototypes allowed to: a) compare hydraulic and electric drive systems, b) validate the self-locking mechanism up to its limit, c) analyze the hydraulic system for leg opening and translation and d) prove the traction capacity. Finally, a theoretical model for the local heating system was developed. The system experimental validation on a cooled environment demonstrated its capacity of increasing temperature. Furthermore, it allows the obstruction removal in a controlled manner, avoiding damage to the polymeric layer of the flexible line.

In-pipe robots are a powerful tool for hydrate plug removal inside ultra-deep water pipes. These robots may operate with energy supplied by umbilical cables immersed in oil. Present work focus on the development of a general strategy for computing the required forces for pulling such cables confined in ducts of generic length and geometry. Based on mathematical models obtained from specialized literature, a computational algorithm was designed to evaluate the static friction force related to the cumulative effects along the arbitrary set of curves present in a generic pipe. This computational routine can calculate the static friction forces associated to a cable inside a given pipe, whose coordinates are fed by the user. To evaluate the simulation performance, the achieved results were compared with that ones obtained through experimental tests performed using a cable with polymeric coating positioned inside ducts. Different geometries, load and lubricating conditions were tested, and the analytical model could estimate with reasonable accuracy the required force to move an umbilical cable inside pipes.

RESUMOEste artigo apresenta a experiência do desenvolvimento de uma rede de inovação, a Rede de Inovação ULBRATECH, na forma de experiências e lições aprendidas, obtidas por meio do planejamento e da implantação da referida rede, que compreende incubadoras e parques tecnológicos, e núcleos ou agências de inovação e transferência de tecnologia, em nível nacional, no Brasil. A rede está organizada em quinze cidades brasileiras, compreendendo seis estados das regiões sul, centro-oeste e norte do Brasil, onde a universidade mantenedora atua com unidades de ensino superior. Foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter qualitativo com os gestores dos empreendimentos de inovação e gestores das unidades de ensino da universidade, e identificaram-se os principais desafios e dificuldades da estruturação da rede, assim como as principais vantagens obtidas por essa rede. Os resultados são apresentados no formato de lições aprendidas e servem como uma fonte de conhecimento para instituições que pretendem implantar redes de inovação. Dentre os principais resultados, destacam-se a dificuldade de integração dos modelos de gestão da universidade e dos empreendimentos de inovação, em razão das diversidades regionais; problemas de gestão do conhecimento, que impactam na integração entre os partícipes da rede, tanto em virtude da falta de compartilhamento das experiências, como a dificuldade de manter um diretório atualizado de competências da rede; necessidade de fomentar a cultura empreendedora de forma interna e externa à universidade; e a necessidade de revisão de processos de gestão da rede, com vistas a qualificar o modelo de governança da Rede de Inovação.Palavras-chave: Redes de inovação. Parques tecnológicos. Incubadoras tecnológicas. INTRODUÇÃOOs habitats de inovação têm se apresentado como elementos importantes no desenvolvimento de projetos, tanto nas universidades quanto nas empresas e no setor governamental, que buscam inovação.O diferencial dos projetos de incubadoras e parques tecnológicos da Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA) está relacionado ao fato de esses projetos trabalharem em rede, utilizando-se da estrutura da rede de ensino da ULBRA, que compreende quinze unidades espalhadas pelo Brasil, para desenvolver 1 Mestre -Universidade Luterana do Brasil -marcio.machado@ulbra.br 2 Doutor -Universidade Luterana do Brasil -anderson