At the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Resell worked on his PhD on drill string vibration.
— I particularly work on the complex dynamics that arise in irregular wellbores. In Rio, I met a larger professional environment working on very relevant issues, says Åsmund Aamodt Resell.
— At the University, they were especially strong in bit–rock modelling, and they helped develop my work a great deal. We complemented each other well — there were areas where they had extremely useful expertise, and areas where I could contribute knowledge from my own work back home, explains Resell.
During his stay, Resell had a close collaboration with Professor Thiago Ritto.
— Ritto had developed a method to generate random irregular wellbore geometries. We then combined the geometry from his method with my drill string model to study the effects on the drilling dynamics. We expect to publish an article on this very soon.
Overcoming language barriers
— Most communication at the University was in Portuguese, and I spent a lot of my free time at the language school taking classes, says Resell.
The language school also arranged social activities, and Rosell’s language skills quickly developed.
— Overall, the stay was a very efficient way to learn the language. Towards the end of my stay, I could follow discussions in joint meetings in Portuguese.
The Brazilian life
Outside the university and language classes, Resell explored Rio’s mountains and islands and spent much of his spare time surfing.
The record-cold winter in Rio de Janeiro was not a hindrance.
— They told me it was the coldest winter in Rio in 20 years. But it was the equivalent of a Norwegian summer, and much more comfortable for a Norwegian than the average Brazilian summer, explains Resell.
While some worry that Rio is not the safest place to visit, Resell found it manageable — with some planning.
— You adapt quickly and learn which areas are safe and which are best to stay away from, he says.
Resell highlights the benefits of travelling and staying by himself, far away from his homeland.
— Going alone really pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to be more extroverted than I normally am. I would recommend a stay like this to anyone, concludes Resell.
Resell studies vibration behaviour in drill strings. His interest began after completing his mechanical engineering degree at NTNU and spending a year in industry.
Åsmund expects to complete his PhD next autumn.
