In 2000, Petrobras DTSUL held a tender for the purchase of clamp-on ultrasonic meters to install in its pipelines. At that time, we competed with Ultraflux and Khone, and our price was more than twice that of our competitors.
In mid-2001, we discovered that the Krone and Ultraflux meters, acquired by Petrobras-DTSUL, were not working and reached the point of being turned off. The Ultraflux and Khrone meters use the transit time measurement technology - Shear Mode while the Controlotron meter uses the transit time measurement principle - Wide Beam. This is the main reason that makes our meter capable of measuring flow in pipes through which different products pass, while other manufacturers fail.
Test and sell We talked to Mr. Josenildo Bezerra (Petrobras) and we inform you that we could supply a meter (clamp-on), capable of measuring in polyducts. We proposed a test with the purchase commitment, in case it was successful and they accepted. We installed a 1010DVN meter for testing, replacing two ultraflux meters, in a Petrobras Pipeline (DTSUL) in São Francisco do Sul. The test lasted one month, being very successful and resulting in the acquisition of the tested meter and a second meter. This second meter was installed in a pipeline located in Itararé, replacing a clamp-on type Khrone meter. Our meter started to be compared with a spool type Khrone and after some adjustments, the Controlotron meter started to operate satisfactorily, obtaining approval from Petrobras.
Future events and possibilities: Yesterday, 05/29/02, Mr. Bertholdo from Petrobras DTSUL called Fluxo and informed them that there was a leak in the region and the problem was not greater due to the Controlotron meter which registered a drop in flow and made it possible for the line to be blocked immediately. This incident made Petrobras decide to buy another DV meter for installation in one of the unmetered pipelines. In addition, we are already working on another project in this same region to supply two four-channel meters. The specifications have already been made and we will not have any competitors, as everything is in accordance with our 1010MN model. In December 2002, the purchase of another 05 (five) 1010DVN meters was requested for installation in the DTSUL ducts.
It is important to mention that these pipelines receive oil with different compositions that come from different locations, such as the Campos Basin and other parts of the world.