Guilherme de Oliveira Estrella, a remarkable Brazilian petroleum geologist born in Rio de Janeiro in 1942, was responsible for essential decisions that led to the discovery of the Brazilian pre-salt oil province in 2006, the largest in the world discovered in the last 50 years.
His work earned him the title “Father of Pre-Salt” but, despite recognition among his peers, Estrella insists that “The Pre-Salt was the result of successive generations of Petrobras geoscientists who, with hard work and strong desire to overcome the initial pessimistic view of many, reached the ‘big ones’ in the Santos Basin.”
In his more than 50 years of professional life, Estrella has made enormous contributions to the petroleum industry, geosciences and engineering development in Brazil. He is known worldwide for his impressive technical and managerial career in Petrobras, the giant Brazilian state-owned company. From field geologist to director of exploration and production, he played critical roles and made significant contributions to the company’s transformation from a small onshore oil operator into a world-renowned leader in deep water.
Illuminated Discoveries
Estrella means “star” in Portuguese, and this is an apt name for him, according to colleagues, because of the oil discoveries he illuminated in his career.
The first two were the Miranga and Fazenda Onça fields in Recôncavo, Brazil’s most prolific basin during the 1960s. In 1968, Estrella was involved in paving the way toward offshore exploration, finding salt in the first offshore well in Espírito Santo Basin. The find brought enthusiasm to Petrobras exploration teams, who coined the phrase, “A basin with salt is a basin with oil.” During the same year, Estrella worked in the technical group that discovered Guaricema, the first offshore field in the Brazilian sea.
In the 1970s, he published two innovative articles on the evolution of South Atlantic basins, and they were critical to the understanding of the Brazil’s petroleum potential.
Estrella also spent time leading the geology group at Petrobras International. In 1977, his team was responsible for the discovery of the gigantic Majnoon Field, the largest oil field found in Iraq to date.
In the early 1980s, he conducted a thorough technical evaluation of source rocks in Brazilian offshore basins. The results of the study completely changed the knowledge of the time, which considered source rocks to be marine. Estrella argued that the source rocks had lacustrine origins – coming from rift lakes not oceans – and his finding was confirmed shortly afterward.
Paradigm Shifts in Petroleum Systems
Estrella’s research was critical to understanding Brazil offshore basins petroleum systems, including their oil generation and migration, and it resulted in new oil discoveries. His work led him to assume several management positions at the Petrobras Research Center, where he obtained the highest position of general superintendent in 1989. While at CENPES he enhanced cooperation with universities and research institutions in Brazil and abroad, developing a variety of technological solutions and collaborative projects.
In 1992, he earned Petrobras its first Offshore Technology Conference award for the technological development of the Marlim Oil Field.
In 2003, after several years of retirement, Estrella returned to Petrobras as director of exploration and production, a position he held until January 2012. Under his leadership, the company developed a strong block acquisition program, increased investment in exploration and enjoyed a period of successful results.
The year 2006 was particularly successful, with the two historic achievements: the discovery of the pre-salt and Brazil reaching self-sufficiency in oil – an objective pursued strenuously by several generations since the foundation of Petrobras. Estrella had an important role in making that dream come true.
Upskilling for the Pre-Salt
Estrella always believed in both the petroleum potential and the people of Brazil. Pre-salt production demanded a significant mindset shift for turbidite systems experts who had to learn to work in giant carbonate fields.
He approved a robust training program for geologists and engineers for this new era of carbonate systems, including numerous field trips all over the world. Field trips helped Petrobras geologists improve their understanding of depositional models, petrophysical and geomechanics characteristics and geophysical response. The program resulted in more discoveries and in early pilot production of the pre-salt in less than two years.
Estrella considered petroleum geology and engineering to be essential tools for national development and sovereignty and keys to improving the Brazilians’ quality of life.
He valued technological partnerships with academia and the integration of the state-owned company with the industrial and service sectors. His commitment to technological development and strong geological and geophysical knowledge acquisition led him to be the recipient of many awards and recognition in Brazil and abroad.
Global Recognition
Estrella holds staff positions at several Brazilian and North American engineering schools, and he has received honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Porto, Portugal, and the Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.
Three Brazilian armed forces branches awarded him with medals granted to civilians, and he received a medal from the Ministry of Labor and by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
He received a Medal of Merit from the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy, Rio de Janeiro, and high honors awarded by the Engineering Club, the Brazilian Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Brazilian Geological Society, where he was granted honorary membership.
Estrella helped to create the Committee for Research and Development Centers Directors for companies in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, and later received awards from the committee.
Estrella also received the highest distinction of the World Petroleum Congress, the Dewhurst Prize in 2011, when he delivered the closing speech at the WPC event in Doha.
In 2011, the United States National Academy of Engineering elected him as foreign associat Estrella’s Academy election citation reads, “for leadership in development of deepwater technology and discovery of giant oil fields offshore Brazil in the pre-salt formations.”
Giving Back
Since leaving Petrobras in 2012, Estrella has continued to play a significant role disseminating knowledge of petroleum geoscience to professionals and students at several universities and technological institutions in Brazil. He serves as an adviser for public policies related to geosciences and petroleum industry and speaks frequently at conference and on public broadcasts in Brazil. He also serves as advisory council member of the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences Foundation.
Estrella is a model for the development of the petroleum industry in Brazil as well as a leader for engagement among technological and academic institutions.
Sylvia Anjos is adviser to the CEO of Petrobras and executive director of the Brazilian Association of Petroleum Geologists.